Living with advanced cancer
If cancer spreads beyond where it first started (the primary site), it may be called secondary, metastatic, stage 4 or advanced cancer. Cancer that has come back is called a recurrence or relapse. People may find out they have advanced cancer when it is first diagnosed. We call all these situations “advanced cancer”.
Understanding grief
Everyone’s experience of grief is different, so this information offers a general guide only. While we hope you find this helpful, some sections may stir up a range of feelings. You may like to read the parts that seem useful now and leave the rest until you’re ready.
Facing end of life
If you have had cancer diagnosed at a late stage, or if the treatments have stopped working and remission is no longer possible, you may be told that the cancer is end stage or terminal. Everyone copes in their own way with this news.