Which specialist performs home-based cancer care?

Home-based cancer care can include assessment of pain, nausea, breathlessness, sleep problems, appetite changes and emotional strain. The team may review medicines, help with mobility or personal care, teach caregivers and coordinate with your oncology, primary care and pharmacy teams.

Palliative medicine can be involved during active cancer treatment and is not limited to end-of-life care. The plan is shaped around what matters to you, the support available at home and the symptoms that need attention. Visits, phone support and equipment arrangements depend on the service.

Ask your oncologist, primary doctor or hospital team whether a palliative home-care referral is suitable. Prepare a current medicine list, names of caregivers, mobility concerns and a description of symptoms across the day. Confirm how to request a visit and what to do outside normal service hours.

Use emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, unresponsiveness, uncontrolled bleeding, a seizure or sudden severe chest pain. Call the home-care team promptly when pain or vomiting is not controlled, confusion develops, you cannot take essential medicines or a caregiver can no longer manage safely.

Who will visit and how often? Which symptoms can the team manage at home? Who changes my medicines? Is equipment available? Which number should my caregiver call day or night? When would hospital assessment be safer?