Dying scenarios in lung cancer patients

Małgorzata Krajnik

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.

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.