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Vol 3, No 3 (2004): Polish Palliative Medicine
Artykuły poglądowe
Published online: 2004-04-27
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Dying scenarios in lung cancer patients

Małgorzata Krajnik
Advances in Palliative Medicine 2004;3(3):281-300.

open access

Vol 3, No 3 (2004): Polish Palliative Medicine
Artykuły poglądowe
Published online: 2004-04-27

Abstract

Cancer trajectory, unlike many other diseases, enables us to predict approaching agony. Prospective qualitative studies including lung cancer patients in the last months of life suggest that they undergo specific adaptation to death. The way patients are attended during active anti-cancer therapy may facilitate or disturb the process. Among cancer patients, subjects with lung carcinoma suffer the highest distress as a result of the extensive symptoms they experience. The most common direct causes of death in these patients are pneumonia and organ failure. It is reasonable to predict and prevent the worst dying scenarios of suffocation and/or massive haemorrhage, and if this is impossible, to design a clear management plan. The article presents options for symptomatic treatment as well as methods of physician support in patients dying from lung cancer.

Abstract

Cancer trajectory, unlike many other diseases, enables us to predict approaching agony. Prospective qualitative studies including lung cancer patients in the last months of life suggest that they undergo specific adaptation to death. The way patients are attended during active anti-cancer therapy may facilitate or disturb the process. Among cancer patients, subjects with lung carcinoma suffer the highest distress as a result of the extensive symptoms they experience. The most common direct causes of death in these patients are pneumonia and organ failure. It is reasonable to predict and prevent the worst dying scenarios of suffocation and/or massive haemorrhage, and if this is impossible, to design a clear management plan. The article presents options for symptomatic treatment as well as methods of physician support in patients dying from lung cancer.
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Keywords

lung cancer; dying scenarios; symptomatic treatment

About this article
Title

Dying scenarios in lung cancer patients

Journal

Advances in Palliative Medicine

Issue

Vol 3, No 3 (2004): Polish Palliative Medicine

Pages

281-300

Published online

2004-04-27

Page views

602

Article views/downloads

5565

Bibliographic record

Advances in Palliative Medicine 2004;3(3):281-300.

Keywords

lung cancer
dying scenarios
symptomatic treatment

Authors

Małgorzata Krajnik

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