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The Voice of People With Breast Cancer
Information
Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Treatment
Palliative Care
Palliative care is specialized health care that helps you live as well as possible while facing a serious illness like metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Although often linked with end-of-life care, palliative care can begin at any stage, including at diagnosis. Many people with mBC include it early to manage symptoms and maintain quality of life.
What It Does
Palliative care helps manage symptoms like pain, fatigue, or nausea, and supports your emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. It is tailored to your needs and works alongside your cancer treatment (not in place of it) to support your overall well-being.
Who’s Involved
Your care team may include:
- Doctors and nurses
- Social workers
- Therapists
- Spiritual care providers
- Dietitians or nutritionists
The team may look different depending on where you live. In Canada, palliative and hospice care are managed by each province or territory, so services and access can vary by location.
When and Where Care is Provided
Palliative care is flexible. You may receive it through regular appointments at your cancer centre or, if needed, at home, in a hospital, or in a hospice. Even if you do not need in-patient hospice care, local hospices often provide outpatient programs, counselling, and other supports.
Finding Palliative Care in Canada
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) offers a searchable directory of palliative care services across Canada. You can look for services in your province or search by topic to find resources that match your needs.
Talk to Your Team
Ask your oncology or health care team about how palliative care could support you. It is an important part of living well with mBC and can help you focus on what matters most throughout your treatment.
» Related reading from Our Voices Blog:
- References
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Canadian Breast Cancer Network. (2022). Breast cancer and you: A guide for people living with breast cancer [PDF]. https://cbcn.ca/web/default/files/public/Reports/Breast%20Cancer%20and%20You_ENG_edit_web.pdf
Canadian Breast Cancer Network. (n.d.). Metastatic breast cancer handbook: A guide for individuals living with stage IV breast cancer. https://cbcn.ca/web/default/files/public/Reports/E%20-%20mBC%20Handbook.pdf
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. (n.d.). The national voice for hospice palliative care in Canada. https://www.chpca.ca/
Cherny, N. I., Paluch-Shimon, S., & Berner-Wygoda, Y. (2018). Palliative care: Needs of advanced breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer (Dove Medical Press), 10, 231–243. https://doi.org/10.2147/BCTT.S160462
Susan G. Komen. (2016). Palliative care for breast cancer: Important and often underused. https://www.komen.org/blog/komen-perspectives-palliative-care-for-breast-cancer-important-and-often-underused/
The Canadian Cancer Society has a database that can be used to find local support services in your area. You can access it below:
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About CBCN
CBCN strives to voice the views and concerns of breast cancer patients through education, advocacy activities, and the promotion of information sharing.
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