Palliative Chemotherapy clarification & Holiday update

Following on from our train wreck meeting with the surgeon, we've spoken to our nurse and we're back on the positive train!

We voiced our concerns about the ''paliative'' chemo that had been mentioned on Friday.

Clinical description:

Palliative Chemotherapy is a type of chemotherapy used to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life for patients with advanced or incurable cancer. Unlike curative chemotherapy, which aims to eliminate cancer, palliative chemo does not cure the disease but instead helps to slow its progression, reduce tumor size, and manage symptoms such as pain, difficulty swallowing, or breathing issues.

So, in this case, paliative doesn't mean ''end of life'' thank goodness!

It's been explained to us that through chemo, if the cancer cannot be cured, it can be contained. They can make cancer a chronic condition that you live with, rather than cure.

Our nurse was really understanding when we explained how the surgeon meeting left us feeling. She couldn't apologize enough about the effect it had on us and plans on making the wider team aware that sometimes explaining what these terms mean would be helpful and calming.

On a super positive, we've been told we can go on our holiday! Wooohoooo!!!

A week in the sun is the perfect way to prepare for starting cancer treatment.

Comments

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