Clinical medicine (London, England)
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Sleep problems are relatively common in patients with advanced disease, and are associated with significant morbidity in these groups of patients. The focus of this article is sleep problems in patients with advanced cancer, and specifically insomnia, 'vivid' dreams and nightmares. However, other sleep problems are also relatively common in this group of patients, including sleep-related breathing disorders and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders. Healthcare professionals should screen all patients with advanced diseases for sleep problems and, equally, initiate appropriate (evidence-based) interventions when they are discovered.
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Nausea and vomiting in palliative care are commonly experienced symptoms, and the aetiology is often multifactorial. The most common causes are impaired gastric emptying, chemical causes (eg medication) and visceral causes (eg constipation). Close attention should be paid to the clinical features which may suggest the likely cause. Antiemetic therapy should be guided by the likely aetiology, although in practice, the clinical picture is often complex, and so regular reassessment is essential for adequate symptom control.
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The management of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is largely informed by data from adequately powered randomised control trials. However, their exclusion criteria have invariably rendered the study populations unrepresentative of those seen day-to-day by palliative care practitioners. ⋯ We should, wherever possible, involve them in the decision-making process particularly where the evidence is lacking. By appreciating the values and concerns of our patients, we shall be able to plan care that most meets their needs.