Being diagnosed with cancer, going through treatments and living from scan to scan can be stressful. However, when the doctor states that cancer has relapsed, and there are limited treatment options, it can be devastating to the person, the carer and the family members (European Society for Medical Oncology [ESMO], 2011; NCI, 2020). Advanced cancer is cancer that cannot be surgically removed or has metastasised to other sites (ESMO, 2011). When living with advanced or metastatic cancer, there are six important points that must be considered. These include communication with the healthcare team, emotional and mental health, care planning, caregiver care, supportive services, financial health and advanced care planning (National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship [NCCS], 2021).
Communication with the healthcare team is important when one has advanced cancer. Advanced cancer requires a multidisciplinary team management approach and includes pain management, symptom management, side effect management, psychological support, financial support, advanced care planning and palliative care planning (Cancer Council, 2022). Bloomhill has great communication with clients and with multidisciplinary professionals both internally and externally, which means that care is continuous and client-centred, an important component of advanced care. Bloomhill has a dietician who can assist with managing weight loss, anorexia and problems regarding food intake, so important to maintain resilience throughout the cancer journey (NCCS, 2021). Furthermore, rehabilitation services such as physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, lymphoedema therapy and oncology massage enable a better quality of life throughout the advanced cancer journey (NCCS, 2021).
Emotional and mental health are also important considerations for those who have advanced cancer. Cancer can have a significant psychological impact on the person’s life. This is due to the uncertainty of life after the diagnosis. Furthermore, with advanced cancer may come continued treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy that may contribute to fatigue, which drains psychological resources and may lead to anxiety and depression. Moreover, repeated surgical procedures may lead to physical disfigurement and impairment. Subsequently, these may lead to grief and a loss of hope (CCQ, 2022). Bloomhill has several excellent counsellors and psychologists that can help with issues regarding grief, self-image and managing anxiety and depression that may affect those with advanced cancer. The Cancer Council also has cancer counselling services and resources to cope with the emotional aspect of advanced cancer (Cancer Council Queensland, 2025). For further information please call 12 11 20.
A care plan is an essential part for those with advanced cancer. The care plan helps with what care is needed, the coordination of that care and most importantly your input into the care. It is a plan of how you want your care managed. It includes the frequency of treatments, tests and scans, short and long-term side effects and their management, support resources and who to contact if there are questions (NCCS, 2021). Bloomhill uses the COSA care plan, which considers the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, occupational and spiritual components of the individual. Furthermore, Bloomhill also has access to the Queensland Oncology Online Listing through the Cancer Alliance, which enables systematic follow-up through wellbeing phone calls and emails. This also enables the clinical nurses to maintain a finger on the pulse of where you are during your journey.
Caregivers play an important part in the support of those with advanced cancer. Care givers are there during your worst and best moments. They attend appointments, ask questions, take notes, access appropriate resources, help make decisions and a lot more (NCCS, 2021; NCI, 2014). Consequently, caregiving is exhausting both emotionally and physically. If care givers are not cared for or supported, they can burn out. As part of Bloomhill’s commitment to providing continued client and family-centred care, Bloomhill also enables carers to access support services should they need or wish to assess support such as psychology, counselling or just respite care. Carers are an important part of the multidisciplinary team and require care too.
With advanced care comes the need for supportive services. These services are not directly related to treatment, but they are essential for supporting the individual so that they can transition through treatment smoothly. Bloomhill offers transport services to assist with transportation to and from the treatment centres and Bloomhill. Furthermore, group activities such as acupuncture, yoga, meditation, Qigong, and support groups are important for specific issues and emotional support for those with advanced cancer (CCQ, 2022; NCCS, 2021; ESMO, 2011). Bloomhill is proud to offer all these services in the support of those with advanced cancer.
Financial toxicity may be one of the key characteristics in those with advanced cancer. When treatment continues and physical health declines, the individual is spending money without being able to work. Furthermore, treatment and related costs often pose hidden costs and burdens on finances. For this reason, it is important to ask about treatment costs, health insurance coverage or whether super can be accessed. Consequently, Bloomhill can recommend loccal businesses such as Steam Financial to ensure that individuals with advanced cancer can access their superannuation if required to provide financial relief and avoid financial toxicity. Furthermore, Bloomhill also offers financial support for those wishing to access services but lack the financial resources to do so.
Finally, an important consideration for those with advanced cancer is advanced care planning. The individual’s input into their own care continues in the form of advanced care directives, which can be accessed online or an appointment made with our nurse practitioner or GP to assist with advanced plan drafting (NCCS, 2021). These assist with ensuring that one’s healthcare wishes are followed, and include where one wishes to die, to resuscitate or not and who is to make decisions when you cannot. Bloomhill has a nurse practitioner and a GP that can assist with these.
End of life care is also important for those with advanced cancer. Hospice services such as Katie Rose and Dove, and palliative care services such as Mingary Care provide care, respect and dignity for someone with advanced cancer who is in the palliative phase of advanced care. Palliative does not necessarily mean end-of-life but refers to supportive care. At Bloomhill we are with you from the time of your diagnosis throughout the journey and we wish to make the journey as good at it can be. Being hopeful, celebrating life and spending time with loved ones is also important (CCQ, 2022).
References
Cancer Council. (2022). Living with advanced cancer: a guide for people with cancer, their families and friends. https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/living-with-advanced-cancer-booklet
Cancer Council Queensland. (2025). Cancer counselling service. https://cancerqld.org.au/get-support/cancer-emotional-support/cancer-counselling-service/#:~:text=This%20service%20is%20staffed%20by%20nurse%20counsellors%20and,through%20to%20living%20with%20or%20having%20survived%20cancer.
European Society for Medical Oncology [ESMO]. (2011). A guide for patients with advanced cancer: Getting the most out of your oncologist. https://www.esmo.org/content/download/6932/132781/file/ESMO-A-Guide-for-Patients-with-Advanced-Cancer.pdf
National Cancer Institute. (2014). Support for carers: When someone you love has advanced cancer. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/when-someone-you-love-has-advanced-cancer.pdf
National Cancer Institute. (2020). Coping with advanced cancer: Choices for care near end of life. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/advancedcancer.pdf
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. (2021). Cancer survivorship checklist. https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/Survivorship-Checklist-Living-with-Advanced-Cancer.pdf
Please contact our Nurses on 07 5445 5794 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
All information provided by Bloomhill is mainly based on research from the Qld Cancer Council and best practice guidelines. Our model of care utilizes the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) domains of wellness along with available clinical evidence. Always consult your care team regarding matters that affect your health. This is a guide intended for information only.
