Hematology/oncology clinics of North America
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Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. · Feb 1996
ReviewManagement of dyspnea and cough in patients with cancer.
The understanding and treatment of dyspnea in the cancer patient are where the science of pain management was 15 or 20 years ago. Very few studies have examined the pathophysiologic mechanisms that cause dyspnea in cancer patients, and few investigators have evaluated therapeutic strategies to control dyspnea in this patient group. The optimal therapy for dyspnea is treatment of the underlying cause. ⋯ No such position has yet been reached in the management of dyspnea in the same population. As a result, dyspnea is addressed only very late in the course of the disease, perhaps reducing the patient's quality of life and function at earlier stages and resulting in a very small "therapeutic window" in the terminal phase. Clearly, a need exists for more research to determine the most effective management of this common and very distressing symptom.
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Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. · Feb 1996
ReviewPsychiatric emergencies in terminally ill cancer patients.
Delirium, depression, suicidal ideation, and severe anxiety are among the most commonly occurring psychiatric complications encountered in cancer pain patients. When severe, these disorders require as urgent and aggressive attention as do other distressing physical symptoms, such as escalating pain. Early diagnosis and treatment can result in effective management of these psychiatric emergencies.
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Nausea and vomiting in advanced cancer, occurring as a manifestation of the disease process or as a complication of drugs used for symptom control, can be controlled rapidly in most instances using the protocol described. This involves an informed appraisal of the cause or causes of nausea and vomiting, combined with application of knowledge of the mechanisms of emesis and the action of antiemetics. Different mechanisms appear to responsible for emesis after chemotherapy and irradiation and for anticipatory vomiting. ⋯ For less emetogenic agents, dexamethasone alone, or in combination with ondansetron for refractory cases, gives good control. For the control of vomiting induced by single-fraction radiotherapy to the upper abdomen, ondansetron is very effective. Management of anticipatory vomiting should concentrate on prevention, but once vomiting is established, behavioral therapy and the amnesic properties of lorazepam may be used.
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Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. · Feb 1996
ReviewPain and symptom control. Patient rights and physician responsibilities.
In considering the care of patients with incurable and terminal diseases, there are three types of interventions: (1) palliative care and symptom management; (2) experimental therapies; and (3) active life-ending interventions. Relief of pain, other symptoms, and suffering should be the basic and standard treatment; the other interventions are meant to supplement, not replace, this intervention. This means the physician's primary obligation is to inform patients about the options for palliative care and to provide quality palliative care. ⋯ With regard to experimental therapies, physicians must obtain full informed consent, provide especially accurate data on the risks and benefits of experimental therapies, and ensure that the patient understands the aims of the proposed therapy. Regarding active life-ending therapies, physicians have the obligation to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment if the patient so desires and to provide adequate pain medication even if this hastens death. Even if euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide are legalized, there is unlikely to be an obligation to provide this intervention.