Living with Cancer
Health Professionals
Supportive Care

Supportive Care

Supportive care refers to services required by those affected or impacted by cancer. It includes among other things information provision, symptom control, self-help and social support, psychological and spiritual support, rehabilitation, palliative care and bereavement care. Supportive care activities in cancer can be broadly defined by the following five categories:

• Physical needs;
• Psychological needs;
• Social needs;
• Information needs; and
• Spiritual needs.

Supportive care can be optimised through routine screening and follow-on referrals to appropriate treatment and care services. Members of the multidisciplinary team as well as family members, friends, support groups, volunteers and other community-based organisations can all play an important role in a cancer patients’ supportive care.

Benefits provided by Supportive Care for those affected by cancer include:
• A positive impact on experiences of patients by reducing levels of anxiety and depression, better managing physical symptoms and increasing patient knowledge of the disease and treatment;
• Improved medical outcomes through better adherence to treatment including faster recovery, fewer post-hospital complications, enhanced self-care and greater ability to cope with difficult treatments; and
• Enhanced decision-making, active participation and care and improved patient satisfaction with care.
Source: Department of Health, Victoria (2009): Providing optimal cancer care. Supportive care policy for Victoria.  There are many support services available to access.

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