One of the important decisions that you may need to make at this time is where you want to be cared for.

If you have family or friends who are able to look after you, they can have help from various people and organisations. Macmillan nurses, Marie Curie nurses and specialist symptom control doctors can visit you at home.

You have a right to live (and die) at home if you wish. However, if you are no longer able to cope at home and have no family or close friends able to look after you, other services are available.

Private residential and nursing homes usually offer short-stay or long-stay care. Your GP, district nurse or social worker can arrange this for you, but it may take some time. A fee is charged for care in private nursing homes, although you can sometimes get this paid for you if you have little or no savings.

Lists of local registered care homes and details of registered nursing homes are available from your local social services department and your area health authority. You can get information about finding a nursing home and discussion about all the issues to consider on the Nursing Home Fees Agency website.

Hospices provide day care services for people with cancer, and can often give short-term or respite care, as well as care for people in the last few weeks of their life.

Hospices are not just places where people go to die, although many people still think that this is the case. Hospices specialise in the control of pain and other symptoms and in supporting the person with cancer and their family. People can go into a hospice for a short time to have any pain or other symptoms controlled before going home again.

Many hospices are purpose built in pleasant grounds and are designed to be attractive and comfortable. Many have kitchens, sitting rooms and accommodation for relatives. Activities are often provided for people who are well enough to take part. They are smaller and quieter than hospitals, and work at a much gentler pace.

Accommodation and care in a hospice is always free of charge. Some are set up by the NHS, and others are funded by charities. Sometimes there is a waiting list, but this is not usually longer than a few weeks. Many hospices also have nurses who go out to visit people in their own homes, and day care centres for people who are living at home.

You are always welcome to visit a hospice to help you decide whether you would like to be looked after there. You can find out more about your local hospice from your GP or by searching the hospice section.

Some people move house to be near their family, but may find that they then have no contact with their own circle of friends, which can make them feel very isolated. It is important to consider whether moving to be near relatives will be a good idea or whether it will be inconvenient for you.