Planning

Time is precious and even more so when living with a terminal illness and uncertain future.
This is the time to think about what is important in life and to plan to keep these important things as part of your life even if you become unwell.

Relationships 

Serious illness can often bring people together but it can also be a time of difficult emotions. Each member of the family will probably look to the person with the illness, for guidance of what to talk about.

Expressing your concerns and feelings about what you are going through can be an invitation to family and friends to discuss their concerns. At first people may say things like, “Don’t say that, you’ll be fine” but it is important to continue to express how you are feeling.

It is worth thinking about (or writing down) the name of each person you love and care about, and what you would want them to hear/know if you were to die tomorrow. Also, you might think about what they would like to hear from you. It can be easier to see a need in someone else than in yourself.

If conflict exists within your family or amongst your friends, or open communication has never been easy, it may be worth seeking some help to say the things you want. A pastoral care worker, social worker, counsellor or a member of your church can often help you to work through this. Contact your palliative care service for more information on the services available to you locally. Links refer to Relationships and communication.

Travel 

If you would like to travel, talk to your doctor about your travel plans. In most instances your doctor will need to provide written information about your illness and treatment for you to take with you when travelling. More information Links refer to Travel.

Putting your affairs in order

In Australia today there is a greater emphasis on planning for life events - buying a house, having a baby, retirement, buying death and accident insurance.  When you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, reviewing all your prior planning and putting further plans into place is a way to ensure that what you want can actually happen.

Things you might like to consider in getting your affairs in order: