Does palliative care treat lung cancer?

Palliative care is specialist support for comfort and day-to-day wellbeing. For lung cancer, the team may help with breathlessness, cough, chest discomfort, pain, fatigue, nausea, appetite changes, sleep difficulty or worry. It can also help with oxygen questions, activity planning, communication with family and understanding treatment choices.

Palliative care can begin soon after diagnosis and can continue with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted medicines, immunotherapy or other cancer care when those options are suitable. Its focus is the effect of illness on your life; it does not replace treatment intended to control the cancer.

Tell your lung cancer team exactly when symptoms occur and what makes them better or worse. A brief record of breathlessness, cough, pain, sleep and activity can make the assessment more useful. Ask whether a palliative care referral could help with symptoms or with planning care at home.

Take all medicines as directed and check before adding over-the-counter products, especially if you use medicines that affect alertness or breathing. Palliative clinicians can review your plan and coordinate with respiratory, oncology and home-care services.

Seek emergency care for sudden or severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting, coughing up a large amount of blood or chest pain that is severe or new. Contact your oncology team promptly for worsening breathlessness, fever, inability to keep fluids down or pain that is not controlled. Do not wait for a scheduled appointment when breathing changes quickly.

Could palliative care help my breathing or pain now? Which symptoms require an urgent call? How will palliative care fit with my lung cancer treatment? Who should my family contact outside clinic hours?