Advice and help on how to deal with physical symptoms and emotional and psychological distress are a very important part of care for people with cancer. There are doctors and nurses throughout the country who specialise in these aspects of treatment, which is called palliative care or supportive care. They are based in hospitals, hospices, specialist palliative care units and pain clinics. There are also many home care teams of doctors and nurses who can visit you in your home and make sure that your symptoms are well controlled and that you have help and support.

When you are at home, your GP and district nurse will be responsible for your day-to-day care. Free specialist help is available from clinical nurse specialists (such as Macmillan nurses) and palliative care doctors. These specialist doctors and nurses work with you, your GP, district nurses and other members of the community health care team to give advice and guidance on pain and other symptoms, including psychological distress. These palliative care teams, sometimes known as home care teams, may be based at your local hospice or hospital.

The Marie Curie Nursing Service is provided by both registered nurses and care assistants. They give palliative nursing care to people in their own homes, giving direct care and support and respite for carers. They will stay for a period of time during the day or the night. Your district nurse or clinical nurse specialist will be able to give you details.

What is available will depend on where you live. Whatever the system in your area, the most important thing is that you, your family, your GP and the specialist services know who is supervising your symptom control and who to contact if you have pain or other symptoms. Day and night you should be able to get immediate help and advice, by telephone or in person.

Our section caring for someone gives more detail about the support services available.

Hospices and specialist palliative care units specialise in the care of people with cancer. Some are run by independent charities or by Marie Curie Cancer Care (known as Marie Curie Hospices). Others are local NHS trusts. These units provide a variety of care – inpatient, outpatient and day care. Most work closely with specialist pain centres.

Often, people with cancer spend a few days or weeks in a hospice having their symptoms and other problems sorted out. They can then go home to the care of their GP and community-based nurses with the help, support and advice of the hospice home care team. Your GP will know about the hospice services available in your area.

Hospices do not only deal with dying or very seriously ill patients; they will help anyone with cancer who needs advice about controlling pain or other symptoms.

Alternatively, people with cancer who cannot look after themselves at home, and who have no regular carers, may occasionally spend longer periods in a hospice.

As well as care from your consultant and the ward staff, specialist advice is available from the hospital-based palliative care team. This consists of clinical nurse specialists and doctors who specialise in symptom control.