Understanding the Challenges of Life-Limiting Illnesses

Living with a life-limiting illness is often challenging for both the person with the illness and their families. Uncertainty and fear can lead to anxiety. Some individuals find it hard to maintain hope, and may become depressed or lose a sense of meaning in life as they struggle to come to terms with what their diagnosis means to them and their families.

Symptom management is important as pain, shortness of breath and fatigue, for example, will impact psychological functioning. A range of emotional responses are common and include grief and loss, loss of meaning and purpose, anxiety and depression.

The team at Melbourne Psycho-oncology Service have experience working with those with advanced disease and those approaching the end of life. They are also experienced in working with family members and have experience in grief and bereavement therapies.