Planning ahead

Taking a moment to plan

Many people take the time during or after their treatment to plan ahead. This is called advance care planning. There are a few ways you can plan ahead and several legal documents you can use too. Your healthcare team will have more information about these.

It’s a good idea to plan ahead while you are still well enough to do so. Writing down your preferences and wishes is a good place to start. Below are a few things you can begin thinking about:

How would you like to be cared for when you become less well?
Where would you like to be when you are approaching the end of your life?
Who do you want looking after your affairs when you’re no longer able to?

It can also be beneficial to appoint somebody who could make decisions on your behalf, if you find you’re unable to. This is called a power of attorney, and they can make decisions about your property and finances, or your health and welfare.

You can talk about advance care planning with your GP, specialist doctor or nurse, or palliative care team. It can also be helpful to speak with family and friends.

Decisions about your treatment

Before you start a new treatment, you may find it helpful to get as much information from your care team as you can. Your doctor should be able to tell which treatments are suitable and give you an idea of the severity of side effects. The decision lies with you and no decision will be final without your consent.

Here are some examples of questions you can ask your doctor about your treatment:

What treatment options are available to me?
Is the aim of the treatment to control my symptoms or help me live longer?
If I choose to have the treatment, how much longer will I live?
What happens if I don’t want the treatment?
Are there any side effects to this treatment? What are they?
Will I still be able to work on treatment?
Will I need to stay in hospital while receiving the treatment?

When discussing with your healthcare team, you may want to focus on the things you enjoy and what you would like to achieve, as well as your current living situation so that these can be taken into account when deciding your treatment plan. Indeed, some treatments have more severe side effects than others and considering how they will affect your day-to-day life and how to manage them may help determine a treatment better tailored to your needs. No one side effect is certain when you receive a cancer treatment, therefore healthcare professionals can only give you a list of most likely or most commonly experienced symptoms.

Managing pain and fatigue

If you find you are experiencing pain, your doctor may be able to prescribe different treatments for it.

Some treatments can cause fatigue. You might notice you are becoming tired much more quickly and your body may not feel as strong as it did previously. Fatigue can happen as a result of the treatment prescribed or the cancer itself.

Here are some simple tips which may help you manage your fatigue:¹

Try to conserve energy if you are feeling fatigued for the things you really want to do.
Try to include rest/sleep in your daily routines/activities. Regular rest periods can help you manage energy levels.
Listen to your body – if you begin to feel tired, make sure to rest.
Keeping active can boost your appetite, give you more energy and improve sleep. It is best to start slowly and balance with rest.
Eating well can help you keep or regain your strength and give you more energy.

Meet the patient advocates
making moments count

Our campaign has been created with insights from patients. Follow the journeys of Claire, Laura and Juliet as they share their stories. Learn about their experiences so you know what you may experience in your own journey.

Juliet FitzPatrick

Laura Middleton-Hughes

Claire Myerson

Find out more

References

Macmillan Cancer Support. Cancer information and support. Tiredness (fatigue). Available online at: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/tiredness [Last accessed: September 2021]

UK | SEPTEMBER 2021 | 124223