Articles: palliative-care.
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Demographic attributes of cancer patients are associated with the awareness of diagnosis, the prognosis of cancer and their associated psychological distress. This study was aimed to assess the knowledge of diagnosis, prognosis and psychological distress among patients reporting to the pain and palliative care department in a tertiary cancer hospital, south India. ⋯ Higher educational levels and better socio-economic status increase the likelihood of patients being aware of their diagnosis and prognosis. Being unaware of the prognosis remains associated with the higher level of distress.
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Palliative care (PC) for children with life-limiting conditions (LLC) is a holistic approach to achieve the best quality of life. ⋯ Our study highlights the growing number of LLCs and current pediatric and PC services require further resources and development.
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Although regional metastasis to the lymph nodes is common in advanced oral cancer, extensive local invasion into surrounding structures such as the mandible, skin and soft tissue of the neck, and masticator space is relatively rare. Sometimes surgical treatment cannot be performed and only palliative chemotherapy and radiation therapy are offered to preserve the quality of life of patients with advanced oral cancer. Nevertheless, the surgical resection of tumors remains the most effective treatment. This study presents a case of aggressive mouth floor cancer in which extensive composite defects on the mouth floor, oral mucosa, mandible, skin and soft tissue of the neck caused by tumor resection were reconstructed. ⋯ This study show that the reconstruction of extensive composite defects of the oral mucosa, mandible, and neck soft tissue following surgical resection of mouth floor cancer can be performed in a single-stage operation. Through a single-stage reconstruction, both excellent functional aspects without cancer recurrence and satisfactory aesthetic outcomes can be obtained.