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supportive care

Explore the different types of supportive care

Cancer and its treatment can cause physical symptoms and side effects. They can also cause emotional, social, and financial effects. Treating these effects is called supportive care.

Supportive care is an important part of care that is included along with treatments to slow, stop, or cure the cancer. Research shows that supportive care can improve the quality of your life and help you feel more satisfied with the treatment you receive.

Supportive type

What is physical care?

Cancer patients who experience physical symptoms as a result of their diagnosis and / or treatment may require additional assistance from their care-givers. Physical side effects of cancer and its treatment depend on several factors. These include your type of cancer, its stage, the treatment, and your general health.

What is emotional care?

Having cancer can make you feel many different emotions such as sadness, anxiety or anger. It can also make you feel very distressed. Your doctor, navigator or member of our supportive care team may recommend talking to a counselor psychologist or other specialist to help you understand ways of coping with these emotions.

What is spiritual care?

Spiritual care is a source of strength that helps patients cope with their cancer experiences, find meaning in their lives, find a sense of health and make sense of their cancer experiences during illness.

Patients who are spiritual may utilise their beliefs in coping with illness, pain, and life stresses. Some studies indicate that those who are spiritual tend to have a more positive outlook and a better quality of life, reduced stress, instilled peace and improved ability to manage challenges.

What are practical needs?

Members of the supportive care team can help you find resources to assist with financial and legal, life-insurance and employment concerns. Discussing the goals of care is also an important component of supportive care. This includes talking about advance directives and facilitating communication among family members, caregivers and members of the oncology care team.

Physical side effects of cancer treatment

The common physical side effects that patients diagnosed with cancer or treated for cancer, may include the following:

  • Pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Shortness of breath
  • Insomnia

Possible emotional side effects of cancer

The common emotional side effects that patients experience after cancer treatment may include the following:

  • Changes in self-image
  • Stress
  • Grief and loss
  • Uncertainty
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Guilt
  • Fear

Things that may help emotional side effects

As a caregiver, doing the following can help a patient who is experiencing emotional side effects:

  • Listening
  • Asking what might make things easier
  • Providing some time alone each day, if desired
  • Suggesting some enjoyable things to do together
  • Reminding your loved one of the resources available in the supportive care team
  • Telling them how much you care for them and want to help them
  • Being prepared to sit with the person and share upsetting thoughts and feelings
  • Asking if there is anything that they have a particular desire for
  • Remembering that it is normal for your loved one to feel downhearted from time to time
  • Encouraging involvement in day-to-day activities such as the news and social activities

Types of spiritual interventions

The following refers to how you should approach someone if you’d like to offer spiritual care:

If a person is not religious

  • Creating a 'life review'
  • Support groups
  • Listening to music
  • Creating artwork
  • Enjoying nature
  • Enjoying other leisure activities

If a person is religious

  • Visits from or referrals to chaplains, pastoral care workers or traditional healers
  • Spiritual or religious counselling
  • Taking part in religious services

Practical needs of those with cancer

Patients will often need care and support with the following:

  • Extra care and planning required for traveling when you have cancer
  • Help and support for families with members who have cancer
  • Support for employment concerns when having cancer
  • Financial advice on personal finances, such as your mortgage, pension, credit cards and insurance
  • Advance directive document that states a person’s wishes about receiving medical care if that person is no longer able to make medical decisions

Supportive care for physical side effects might include anti-nausea medicines, physical therapy, or help with nutrition.

Sometimes patients or their carer become very concerned about what is happening and may become depressed or anxious.

A “life review” provides opportunity to “tie up loose ends”, to laugh and to cry, and to tap into your spirit.

Decisions and timing can be individualised for each patient through supportive care.

Further information

Contact the central customer service centre on

[email protected] or 0860 NETCARE (0860 638 2273)

Please note that the centre operates on weekdays between 08:00 and 16:00.

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