PMID: 29083558Nov 1, 2015Paper

PALLIATIVE CARE OF PATIENT WITH GASTROINTESTINAL CANCER IN FAMILY MEDICINE

Acta Medica Croatica : C̆asopis Hravatske Akademije Medicinskih Znanosti
M KatićD Soldo

Abstract

Palliative care is defined as the care for patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. The goals of palliative care are symptom control, life prolongation and enabling the best possible quality of life for patients and their families. For most patients with an advanced progressive incurable disease, 90% of care in their last year of life is provided at home by family physician and his team and patient family. Patients suffering from cancer have a mean of of 11.9 symptoms in the last three months of life. The most common symptoms are digestive tract symptoms and pain. The growth and spread of cancer, as well as the therapeutic procedures applied are the most important causes of symptoms. The most common symptoms in patients with cancer of digestive system are nausea, vomiting, constipation, pain, cachexia, anorexia, and psychological problems. These most common symptoms and many others will be of varying intensity and appearance depending on localization and aggressiveness of digestive system cancer, modality of treatment and patient condition. Patients with advanced cancer have longer survival and all health care professionals involved in the care of patients should have more knowledge and skills necessary t...Continue Reading

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