Sometimes cancer cannot be cured nor the progress of the disease contained. This is when terminal care becomes appropriate, becomes necessary to think about death and the issues surrounding it. Terminal care provides  alleviation of the suffering caused by the physical, psychological, social and mental impact of cancer, and to support patients and their relatives as death approaches. Terminal care also ensures that death is as symptom-free and safe as possible and that family and friends are able to cope with the loss of their loved one.​

An incurable and progressive illness can mean that the patient is helpless in the face of it and the loss of his or her powers of decision-making and functional capacity. resulting in  radically altering the way a patient thinks and feels, and even cause changes in personality. For many having a severe illness and the prospect of death trigger anxiety and depression.​

Loved ones can ease a patient’s psychological distress by taking as natural an attitude as possible to the situation and create a feeling of security and intimacy. Drugs can be used to help alleviate a patient’s psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression.

​Letting go is one of life’s most difficult and painful situations. Death is frightening both for the patient and his or her loved ones. Sometimes, though, death is a release as pain and illness come to an end.

Loved ones’ grief

The thoughts and feelings of loved ones about the impending death of their family member or friend maybe mixed resulting in a conflict in mind. On the one hand, want the patient’s death to be painless and an end to suffering, and yet want the patient to live as long as possible. The closer the patient is to you, the harder it is to let go.

Death is always an upset no matter how used you have got to the idea that the disease is incurable. The initial reaction is shock and a feeling of depression. It may take some weeks after the loved one’s death before questions and difficult feelings associated with the loss start to surface. The death of a loved one and the ensuing grief is a long process with many stages. It is a natural human response to loss. Grief is a personal process. It is not a single emotion but covers a range of emotions – missing, unease, anger, guilt. It can affect you physically as well as mentally. Having trouble concentrating, memory lapses, fatigue and various illusory sensations are common experiences prompted by grief.

The main thing is not to refuse or dismiss feelings of grief. Every one must grieve their own loss. Anxiety does not vanish by trying to suppress your feelings. Crying and talking openly relieve your feelings. Support from family and friends are a source of strength.

Grief is often depicted as coming in waves. At times it feels as if life is returning to normal, and then every so often feelings of grief are resurgent. As day-to-day sorrow subsides, feelings of missing become stronger around the times of the deceased’s birthday or date of death. The feelings involved in mourning and grief may also become prolonged and turn into depression. Not everyone has the opportunity to share their grief with others. in this case see a doctor.