Palliative chemotherapy aims to control your cancer and help with symptoms. It does not aim to cure your cancer. It can help to know why you might have palliative chemotherapy and what questions you could ask.
This page is for people living with cancer that cannot be cured. Marie Curie also provides information and support for people with any terminal illness.
Why do people have palliative chemotherapy?
Palliative chemotherapy aims to:
- control the cancer – for example, stop it from spreading
- help with symptoms – for example, pain or breathlessness
- sometimes help people live longer, but not always.
It does not aim to cure (get rid of) the cancer. This means that you will still have cancer after palliative chemotherapy.
How do I know if my chemotherapy is palliative?
Your cancer doctor (oncologist) should explain why you are having chemotherapy. They should tell you whether it is meant to cure your cancer or not.
They may not always use the word ‘palliative’. They may say that the chemotherapy is to help control your cancer or help with symptoms.
If you’re not sure, it’s OK to ask.
An example of palliative chemotherapy
For example, someone may have oesophageal cancer (cancer in the tube that goes from their throat to their stomach), which has spread and cannot be cured. They may have difficulty swallowing. Treatment, such as chemotherapy, might make the cancer smaller and help them to swallow. The treatment would not cure the cancer. But it may help them to swallow more easily. This would be palliative chemotherapy.
Will I be offered palliative chemotherapy?
Your healthcare professional may suggest palliative chemotherapy if they think it will help you. But it’s not always an option.
If you’re too unwell or approaching the end of your life, palliative chemotherapy may not improve your quality of life and it could cause more problems.
Can palliative chemotherapy help you live longer?
Palliative chemotherapy can sometimes help people live longer. But it does not always help people live longer. It depends on the type of cancer and how it responds to treatment.
Your doctor or nurse can tell you whether they think chemotherapy might help you live longer. But they might not be able to give you an exact answer.
How many cycles of palliative chemotherapy do you have?
Chemotherapy is often given in cycles. A cycle means having a few sessions of chemotherapy and then a break.
How many cycles of palliative chemotherapy you have depends on the effect on your cancer and how you feel. You can talk to your healthcare professionals about what to expect.
Sometimes, people cannot finish their planned treatment. For example, if the chemotherapy is causing severe side effects or putting you at high risk of infection.
What are the side effects and risks of palliative chemotherapy ?
Like all treatment, palliative chemotherapy can cause side effects and has risks.
The side effects and risks depend on the drug you have and how it affects your body. The chemotherapy drugs used are the same drugs used when someone has a cancer that can be cured. If you already feel unwell or weak, side effects can be worse.
Your healthcare professional can give you information about side effects and risks. Macmillan Cancer Support has more information about side effects and risks of chemotherapy.
Should I have palliative chemotherapy?
If you are offered palliative chemotherapy, it is your choice whether you have it. It is OK to ask questions and make a decision that feels right for you. Some people choose to have palliative chemotherapy, and other people choose not to have it.
It can help to talk through your decision with your healthcare professional. You can take your time to ask questions (see Questions to ask about palliative chemotherapy below).
It can help to talk through your decision with your healthcare professional.
You might want to think about:
- how the treatment might help you
- what the side effects and risks could be
- what the other options are
- what matters most to you.
Sometimes family and friends may have different thoughts or opinions on what you should do. It’s OK to do what you think is best for you.
It can sometimes help to talk to someone outside of any family or friends you have. A Support Line can listen to what is happening and talk about your options. They cannot tell you what the best decision is, but it can often help just to talk things through. Macmillan Cancer Support Line and Marie Curie Support Line both offer free information and support.
Questions to ask about palliative chemotherapy
You may want to ask your healthcare professional questions about chemotherapy. They might not be able to give you exact answers to everything. But they should give you information to help you make a decision.
Aim of treatment
- Is palliative chemotherapy a treatment option for me? Why or why not?
- What is it meant to do for me?
- Could it help me live longer?
- If it might help me live longer, how much longer would you expect me to live for?
Treatment decisions
- Which chemotherapy drug are you suggesting?
- What are the side effects?
- What are the risks?
- What might happen if I do not have chemotherapy?
- What are my other treatment options?
Getting palliative care
- How can palliative care help me?
- If I have palliative chemotherapy, can I also be referred for palliative care?
- If I do not have treatment, can I be referred for palliative care?
Can I also have palliative care?
Yes, you can have palliative care at the same time as chemotherapy. Palliative care is for anyone who has an illness that cannot be cured and they are likely to die from.
Palliative care can help to manage physical symptoms. It can also help with emotional and practical support.
