Palliative care
Symptom control and quality of life in serious, progressive illness.
About this condition
Palliative care is about living as well as possible with a serious progressive illness. It focuses on symptoms: pain, breathlessness, nausea, appetite, sleep, anxiety and fatigue, alongside practical and emotional support for the person and their family. It is not only for the last weeks of life and can run alongside active treatment.
Specialist palliative care teams, hospices and community nursing services have the expertise and the speed to respond when symptoms change quickly, and they should always be involved. Any additional clinical conversation must be coordinated with them, with clear communication in both directions.
Treatments people usually try first
These are the treatments commonly offered in the UK for this condition. A specialist doctor will want to know which of them you have tried, and what happened.
- Opioid medicines for pain and breathlessness
- Anti sickness and anti secretory medicines
- Medicines for anxiety and agitation
- Specialist palliative care and hospice community teams
- Occupational therapy, equipment and practical home support
- Family, carer and bereavement support
Could medical cannabis be appropriate?
People with this condition sometimes ask whether medical cannabis could be appropriate for them. That is a question for a specialist doctor, who will look at your diagnosis, your history and everything you have already tried before saying anything either way.
Medical cannabis is an unlicensed prescription only medicine in the UK. It is considered only where a diagnosed condition has not responded adequately to conventional treatment, and it is never a first step. We cannot tell you in advance what might be prescribed, and UK law does not allow us to describe or advertise any medicine on this website.
What we can do is assess you properly and be honest with you. If a specialist doctor does not think this route is right for you, they will say so, and they will explain why.
All treatment is subject to clinical assessment and eligibility.
Questions about palliative care
Gastrointestinal and palliative
Other conditions in this category
YOUR NEXT STEP
Find out where you stand, free.
The eligibility check takes 30 seconds and carries no commitment. All treatment is subject to clinical assessment and eligibility.
Check your eligibility