Specialist Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Pain & Palliative Care

Specialist Palliative Care involvement in adolescent & young adult cancer care is relatively new. The onTrac@PeterMac Service has specialist trained staff who work along side young people's treating teams to provide expert advice and guidance in this area of care.

The aim of pain & palliative care is to give young people the best quality of life possible despite either the complex or multiple symptoms which may arise as a result of treatment, or the progression of the disease.

For many young people undergoing cancer treatment, there is no definite point at which specialist pain & palliative services may become involved. Each young person's illness and the response to treatment directs this transition. However, many of the young people referred to the onTrac@PeterMac meet the specialists of the Pain & Palliative Care Service early on in their treatment. This is because these specialists are an important member of the young person's team, planning and delivering care.

Some young people will require the support of the specialist palliative care team to assist in the management of complex symptoms and side effects throughout treatment and into the post treatment months and sometimes years.

For some young people, despite using the best practice treatments, the cancer will continue to return. When all realistic attempts for cure have been tried, the young person's oncologist may discuss the transition from a curative to palliative focus. Initially this may be a decision to no longer use aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy, but rather focus on the management of symptoms, minimising hospital visits and discussing the young persons preference for place of care. This can be a difficult transition for young people and their families and it is important that individualised support and attention is provided by the young persons treating team. The Specialist Palliative Care Service can provide advice and the appropriate management of symptoms whilst ensuring that emotional, social and spiritual support is available to the young person, their family, school and community. Sometimes, young people do survive a cancer diagnosis. This is a very difficult period for the young person and their family. The Specialist Palliative Care Service, as well as all the onTrac@PeterMac team members are able to assist with appropriate support and care coordination in a number of areas including grief & bereavement follow up.