When you learn you have advanced cancer, you're faced with many decisions about your end-of-life care. Talking about these decisions early can make it easier on you and your family later. The following are some questions you may want to think about:
- What's important to you during this time?
- Is it most important that you be as comfortable and alert as possible during the last stages of cancer?
- Is it most important to continue with treatments that may help you live longer but make you uncomfortable?
Some patients choose to receive all possible treatments. Others choose to receive only some treatments or no treatment at all. Some choose to receive only care that will keep them comfortable. Having information about your options will help you make these choices. Together, you, your family, and your doctor can decide on a plan for your care during the advanced stages of cancer.