Management of terminal cancer in elderly patients.

Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Elizabeth C Clipp, Linda M Sutton

Journal: The Lancet. Oncology 2003;4(3):149-57

PMID: 12623360

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Advances in health care and changing demographics worldwide have led to an ageing population whose care at the end of life has become increasingly complicated. Clinicians face a difficult challenge in the effective management of symptoms and suffering of elderly patients with terminal cancer, against a backdrop of complicated family and social structures. We describe the most pertinent features of management of key symptoms, focusing on pain, dyspnoea, constipation, and anorexia-cachexia syndromes. We present a rational approach to nutritional issues along with a description of the psychosocial issues that must be included in the overall management of these patients.

Address: Duke Oncology Network at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(03)01019-2

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MeSH Terms: Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anorexia, Constipation, Dyspnea, Female, Geriatrics, Humans, Male, Neoplasms, Pain, Palliative Care, Professional-Family Relations