When treatment seems too much

It can feel worth it to deal with side effects for a primary cancer. But when a cure is unlikely, you may not want treatments that leave you exhausted or sick, even if they may help you to live longer.

• Before you start or stop treatment, think about the benefits, risks and burdens. Decisions rarely have to be made immediately.
• Ask yourself if you are feeling unwell from the side effects of the treatment, from the advancing disease or from the emotions of the diagnosis. Some or all of these may be able to be treated, and you may have a different outlook if you feel better.
• Check with your health care team whether your treatment can be adjusted to limit side effects.
• Speak to professionals, such as your doctor, a counsellor or social worker, who can help you decide what is important to you.

Refusal of medical treatment

If you are well enough to make clear decisions (called having capacity), you have the right to refuse any treatment offered, even if it goes against your doctor’s recommendation. Your medical team will usually still explain the proposed treatment and what will happen if you don’t have it. You can stop each treatment separately and at any time – you do not have to accept treatment on an all-or-nothing basis.

In all states and territories, you can complete an Advance Care Directive that your health care team (nurses, doctors, paramedics, etc) must follow. This is a legal document in which you can give instructions about future medical treatment, including any treatment that you do not want to have. It will apply if you get too unwell (lose capacity) to make decisions.

If you have capacity, you can also appoint a substitute decision-maker to make treatment decisions if you become unable to.

→ READ MORE: Chemotherapy for advanced cancer

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