End-of-life care is a general term that refers to the medical and psychosocial care given in the advanced or terminal stages of illness. When a patient's health care team determines that the cancer can no longer be controlled, medical testing and cancer treatment often stop. But the patient's care continues. The care focuses on making the patient comfortable.

• End of Life Care: Q&A
  This information can help answer some of the questions that many patients, their family members, and caregivers have about the end of life.

• Advanced Cancer and Palliative Care Treatment Guidelines for Patients
  This report provides patients with access to information on how cancer care decisions near the end of life are made at the nation's leading cancer centers. Originally developed for cancer specialists by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), these treatment guidelines have now been translated for the general public.
  (Spanish version available - Cáncer avanzado y atención paliativa)

• Advanced Care: Living Each Day
  This National Cancer Institute booklet was written to help persons who have gone through the struggles of diagnosis, treatment, and, perhaps, recurrence of cancer, persons for whom a cure or long-term remission is no longer likely.

• Loss, Grief and Bereavement
  Information about the passage from the final stage of cancer to the death of a loved one is different for everyone; this summary describes loss, grief, and bereavement, the stages of grief, and methods for coping with grief.

For a listing of organizations that can offer you support and information, see our Helpful Organizations section.

©2008 Colon Cancer Alliance

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