Symptom Management

People with advanced cancer commonly experience symptoms that are just as distressing as pain if not more so.

  • Patients, their families and their loved ones often want to be educated; this can decrease the natural fear and anxiety of the "unknown" and helps them plan for the future and know when to seek prompt medical attention.
  • The exact causes of any given condition are often irrelevant and investigations to determine these causes may serve no purpose and are exceedingly burdensome.
  • Exploring and alleviating sources of anxiety, fear and stress may reduce the symptom burden.
  • A diary of symptoms, can be very helpful, if patients are willing to keep one. 

The following is a review of the most common symptoms experienced by patients with advanced illness:

The information in this section is largely adapted from the Ian Anderson Continuing Education Program in End of Life Care.
IA_Logo_C2_1.jpghttp://www.cme.utoronto.ca/endoflife/

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This page was last updated: January 28th, 2005 at 3:28pm.