We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
Leaders in end-of-life care recently developed a set of precepts for palliative care:
palliative care refers to the comprehensive management of the physical, – psychological, social, spiritual and existential needs of the patient, in particular those with incurable, progressive illnesses. Palliative care affirms life and regards dying as a natural process that is a profoundly personal experience for the individual and family. The goal of palliative care is to achieve the best possible quality of life through relief of suffering, control of symptoms and restoration of functional capacity while remaining sensitive to personal, cultural and religious values, beliefs and practices
The following two case reports illustrate the acute and chronic nature of palliative care in cancer nursing. They also demonstrate that relationships, trust, and continuity are important, and that a full and “human” assessment of the patient and family is critical if their needs are to be met.
CASE 1
RG is a 45-year-old man who was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer one month prior to admission to the cancer center. He is divorced, has two adult daughters, three grandchildren, and lives with his fiancée who is 5 months pregnant. He has a recent history of drug abuse including opioids and crack cocaine, and had been in a methadone maintenance program. On admission to the cancer center he was cachectic, had severe abdominal pain, gross ascites, early satiation, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, fatigue, and general irritability.
RG was not a surgical candidate but was offered chemotherapy, which he accepted. During the 2-week hospital admission he had his ascites drained, a PEG feeding tube inserted, a PORT placed for central venous access, and was started on a parenteral infusion of morphine sulfate for pain.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
