Supportive care and advanced cancer

Supportive care can begin at any point,  including at diagnosis. It’s not limited to the final stages of life. In fact, early involvement often means:

• More time to plan and prepare

• Better control of symptoms from the outset

• A stronger sense of support from the beginning

If you’re unsure whether supportive care is right for you now, your GP or health care team can help talk through your options.

Your care team may include doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, psychologists, and spiritual care workers. Together, they can support you with:

• Pain, fatigue, nausea or bowel symptoms

• Anxiety, low mood or emotional fatigue

• Nutrition and enzyme support

• Counselling or psychological care

• Cultural and spiritual support

• Planning ahead or making care decisions

• Equipment, transport and respite support

Supportive care is flexible. It adapts to your needs as they change, helping maintain quality of life throughout any point of your care plan.

People with advanced pancreatic cancer may experience:

• Pain or discomfort (often in the abdomen or back)
• Fatigue or low energy
• Appetite loss or difficulty digesting food
• Weight loss
• Nausea or changes in bowel habits
• Jaundice
• Difficulty managing blood sugar levels

Your care team can support you with:

• Pain medication and symptom-specific treatment
• Pancreatic enzyme supplements
• Nutrition support to maintain strength
• Diabetes or blood sugar monitoring
• Palliative procedures, such as stents for bile duct obstruction
  
  

To explore practical advice and treatment options for managing symptoms like pain, fatigue, jaundice or digestion issues, visit our Managing Symptoms page.

While surgery is not typically an option for advanced pancreatic cancer, there are still treatments that may help ease symptoms or slow the cancer’s growth. These can include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapies.

Your doctor will explain what’s available for your situation. You can also visit our Treatments page for more in-depth information. 

This stage of the illness can bring emotional changes. Some people feel anxious or withdrawn; others feel numb or uncertain. It’s common to need time and space.

Support is available through: 

• Counsellors or psychologists
• Specialist nurses and GPs
• Peer support groups or helplines

These services are also available to carers and family members.

Living with advanced cancer involves ongoing changes, but many people continue doing what’s meaningful to them in ways that feel manageable.

Supportive care can help you:

• Plan your week around energy levels
• Stay active with light movement
• Manage nutrition with tailored advice
• Access help at home, including nursing, transport or equipment

If your needs increase, your team can help coordinate additional support or explore other care options. 

Supportive care is about protecting your quality of life, not just treating illness.

Having clear, reliable information can help reduce stress. Your care team can guide you through decisions, explain what to expect, and ensure you have access to the right services at each stage.

You don’t need to manage everything at once. You can take things one step at a time, supported by people who understand the path ahead.

Supportive care is usually coordinated by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals who bring different expertise to your care plan. Depending on your needs, this may include:

• Your GP, who helps manage ongoing care and referrals
• Palliative care doctors or nurses, with expertise in symptom relief
• Oncologists, who may still be involved in active treatment
• Dietitians, psychologists, or social workers
• Occupational therapists or physiotherapists
• Spiritual care workers or cultural liaison officers, if relevant to your care

You may receive care at home, in hospital, via outpatient clinics or by telehealth. Your care team will help coordinate these services based on what’s most appropriate for your situation.

Supportive care is designed to fit around your life. Whether you’re receiving care at home, in hospital, or through remote services, your team will help make sure it’s accessible and aligned with your needs.

You don’t have to organise it on your own. Your doctor or nurse can explain what’s available in your area and what might be suitable for you. Visit Palliative Care Australia for more information. 

Start by speaking with:

• Your GP - who may already be coordinating parts of your care
• Your oncologist or nurse - who can refer you to hospital or community-based services
• A palliative care team - if you’ve already been referred to one

In many cases, a referral is required, but your team will assist with the process. Most public services are free or low-cost, though there may be fees for specific supports or equipment.

There are two main parts to advance care planning:

• Appointing a substitute decision-maker
  This is someone you trust to speak on your behalf about medical decisions, if you are unable to. They can be a partner, family member or friend, and must be over 18 and willing to take on the role.

• Writing an Advance Care Directive
  This is a document that outlines your values, preferences and instructions about future care. It is used only if you are unable to communicate. Once completed, it should be shared with your GP, care team and substitute decision-maker, and uploaded to your My Health Record if possible.
  
  

An Advance Care Directive is considered a legal document. In most cases, it does not require a solicitor, but each state and territory has different forms and requirements.

You can talk to:

• Your GP
• Your care team (including your nurse or specialist)
• A social worker or advance care planning service

For forms, guidance and state-specific resources, visit Advance Care Planning Australia.