How do I tell my family I am palliative?

Simplicity and honesty is best. Call together who you think are important to know, all together or in stages depending on your comfort level. The silences are at first awkward, but then fill themselves. Everyone has a way of putting their own mark on what they say. Saying something like, “You know I have not been well with….. I have been working with my doctor on sorting this out. My treatment will be palliative now with everything else I am doing, pain relief and other symptoms, but no new treatments to cure my illness. I want to focus on treating….. I will need to sort out my personal affairs, make all kinds of arrangements, you know, wills, directives, but mostly I want to spend time……!” Consider taking a family member or friend to your doctor or other health professional to help share this task and confirm what you say to your family and friends.