Palliative care - GenesisCare

What is palliative care?

Palliative care does not aim to cure a cancer, it is used to help shrink, slow down the growth, or control symptoms of an advanced stage tumour. It may also be used to control the symptoms of a cancer that has spread to give a patient a better quality of life.

Palliative care is used for various reasons

Shrink a tumour to relieve pressure

Relieve symptoms of brain metastasis

Treat a spinal cord compression

Relieve symptoms of lung metastasis

Relieve bone pain

Control and reduce bleeding in ulcerating tumours

Side effects

Radiotherapy is the most common cancer treatment in Australia and New Zealand.

Tiredness Mole removed with surrounding tissue and sent for analysis.

Skin changes and inflamation Mole removed with surrounding tissue and sent for analysis.

Swelling and build up of fluids If malignant melanoma greater than 1mm deep or lymph nodes in the area are swollen.

Hair loss If positive will probably remove other lymph nodes in the area (lymphadenectomy).

Stress, anxiety and other coping issues are also common If malignant melanoma cells are found in the lymph nodes or the melanoma is more than 4mm deep.

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