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Palliative care can happen at any stage in advanced breast cancer, not just when patients require hospice care.
Palliative care
Patients should be reassured that while palliative care does involve hospice care, it can be provided at any stage in advanced breast cancer. Palliative care can help to manage the symptoms of cancer, reduce treatment side effects and improve patients’ quality of life. It is recommended that patients are referred to palliative care from the time of diagnosis or at the beginning of treatment. Some PHOs may provide funding to subsidise the provision of palliative care. See the guide for referring and treating patients under palliative care at the appropriate regional HealthPathways.
