Supportive Care
As defined within the Supportive Care Policy for Victoria, “supportive care is used as an umbrella term used to refer to services which may be required by those affected by cancer. It includes self-help and support, information, psychological support, symptom control, social support, rehabilitation, spiritual support, palliative care and bereavement care.”
Within this definition, supportive care in cancer covers the following five inter-related domains of care:
- Physical needs
- Psychological needs
- Social needs
- Information needs
- Spiritual needs
People affected by cancer
For this project and website the terms ‘those affected by cancer’ or ‘people affected by cancer’ refers to the patient diagnosed with cancer, their family and carers.