The short answer
Symptoms of advanced cancer, such as pain, fatigue, and nausea, can often be managed. Palliative care treats these symptoms and side effects and supports emotional and practical needs. All patients have a right to comfort and quality of life throughout their care.
Palliative care treats and prevents the symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment.
Common physical symptoms include pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath.
The same methods used to treat cancer can also be used to ease symptoms and add comfort.
All patients have a right to comfort and quality of life throughout their care.
Choose how you want to understand this
The full explanation.
Comfort is a right at every stage
Palliative care is care that makes patients feel better but does not treat the disease itself. It should begin when the cancer is diagnosed and continue through treatment and beyond.
All patients have a right to comfort and quality of life throughout their care. Research shows that palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and family members. It is especially important if you choose to stop treating your cancer.
Palliative care includes:
- treating or preventing the symptoms and side effects caused by cancer and its treatment
- getting emotional and spiritual support
- addressing the practical concerns of patients and families
Physical symptoms that can be eased
Because the effects of cancer differ from person to person, palliative care can address a broad range of physical symptoms. Common ones that can be addressed include:
- pain
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- shortness of breath
- insomnia (trouble sleeping)
Telling your team about these symptoms is the first step. When your team knows what you are feeling, they can build a plan to help.
How treatment can ease symptoms
Many of the same methods used to treat cancer, such as medicines and certain treatments, can also reduce pain or other symptoms and help you feel more comfortable. This is called palliative treatment.
For example, doctors may give chemotherapy or radiation therapy to slow the growth of a tumor that is causing pain. Or surgery may be performed to remove a mass that is pressing on certain nerves and causing pain. In advanced cancer, palliative treatment may be given to help you feel better even if it is not meant to cure the cancer.
Pain does not have to be constant
Some people assume there will always be severe pain with advanced cancer. This does not have to be the case. Pain can be managed throughout the course of the disease.
People whose pain is managed are able to focus on enjoying life. They can sleep better, spend time with friends and family, and focus on the daily activities they enjoy. It is important to be honest and open about your pain, and to tell your doctors if and where you have pain.
Support beyond the physical
Palliative care cares for the whole person, so it goes beyond physical symptoms. It can help with:
- Emotional and coping needs. Specialists can provide resources for feelings such as depression, anxiety, and fear.
- Spiritual concerns. An expert can help you explore your beliefs and values to find a sense of peace or acceptance that fits your situation.
- Caregiver needs. Family and friends have changing needs too, and specialists can help them cope and get support.
- Practical needs. They can help with financial and legal worries, insurance questions, employment concerns, and discussions about goals of care and advance directives.
Getting help with symptoms
To receive palliative care, members of your health care team may be able to help. Sometimes, though, a palliative care specialist is the best person to treat certain problems.
Ask your doctor or nurse if there is a specialist you can see. Getting the right help early can make a real difference in how you feel each day, whether or not you are still having treatment aimed at the cancer.
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Common questions
▸Which symptoms can palliative care help with?
Palliative care can address a broad range of physical symptoms, including pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and insomnia. It also supports emotional, spiritual, caregiver, and practical needs.
▸Can symptoms be treated even if I stop cancer treatment?
Yes. Palliative care is especially important if you choose to stop treating your cancer. It includes treating or preventing symptoms and side effects, getting emotional and spiritual support, and addressing practical concerns.
▸How can treatment ease symptoms without curing the cancer?
Many of the same methods used to treat cancer can also make you more comfortable. For example, doctors may give chemotherapy or radiation to slow the growth of a tumor causing pain, or surgery may remove a mass pressing on nerves. This is called palliative treatment.
▸Does advanced cancer always cause severe pain?
No. Some people assume there will always be severe pain with advanced cancer, but this does not have to be the case. Pain can be managed throughout the course of the disease. It is important to be honest and open about your pain with your team.
▸Who can help manage my symptoms?
Members of your health care team may help, and sometimes a palliative care specialist is the best person to treat certain problems. Ask your doctor or nurse if there is a specialist you can see.
Questions to ask your doctor
Being prepared helps you get the most out of your appointments. Save or print these questions.
Tap a question to save it to your list (kept on this device).
Test your knowledge
0 of 3 answered
This quiz checks understanding of educational content only. It is not medical advice. Open this quiz on its own page.
How this page was created
Cancer Explained uses AI to organize and translate information from the authoritative sources cited on each page. Automated checks review claims, citations, clarity, duplication, and potential safety concerns before publication. Our content is not currently reviewed by physicians unless a specific qualified reviewer is named on the page. Cancer Explained provides general education and should not replace advice from your healthcare team.
Editorial status: Source verified — This page was created with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed on it. Source checking is not a medical review.
Human medical review: not completed. At this time, most Cancer Explained content has not been reviewed by a physician or other healthcare professional. Pages with documented human medical review identify the reviewer, credentials, and review date directly.
Read more about our editorial process, our use of AI, and our corrections policy.
Spotted a problem? Report an error — a factual mistake, broken or outdated source, confusing wording, or anything that seems unsafe. Please do not include names, medical record numbers, dates of birth, addresses, or other identifying medical information in your report.
After using this page, do you understand what to do next?
Anonymous — we only record the answer, never who gave it.