Other supportive care measures: • access to information about your condition from trusted health professionals • access to a team of allied health professionals (e.g. psychology, social work, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietitian, exercise physiologist) to help manage treatment side effects • various supportive care programs to help you to live as well as you can and to access the care and support you need. A palliative care team can help you manage symptoms and offer support. Anyone with metastatic cancer can be referred to a palliative care team at any point after diagnosis, not just at the end of life. What are the aims of treatment? People who have metastatic breast cancer will have a range of different goals for their treatment, which may change over time. It may be useful to discuss with your treatment team what your goals are, so that they can support you in working towards those goals. Overall, the aim is to keep the cancer under control for as long as possible whilst maintaining the best quality of life achievable and preventing or controlling the symptoms or complications of cancer. You might choose to have the best possible quality of life, even if that means having less treatment. Or, you may want to have all treatments available to prolong your life, even if that means more side effects. Because of the variety of treatment options that are available, each with pros and cons, an individualised plan can be made to fit with your goals. Will I have pain or other symptoms? Metastatic breast cancer and its treatment can cause a number of symptoms and side effects. The greatest influence will be where your cancer has spread and the treatment you’re receiving. Other factors, such as your general health and wellbeing, will also play a part.
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Breast Cancer Network Australia
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