Palliative and shared care concepts in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
Approximately 50% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) will eventually die of metastatic disease. Effective palliative management can be used within a shared care model in CRC to provide optimum symptom control, psychological well-being and maintenance of quality of life for patients, their families and carers, including bereavement support. Maintenance of realistic hope and early goal setting are equally important in end-of-life discussions with patients and families. Palliative care should be incorporated early in the course of the illness, concurrent with disease-modifying therapies. Within shared care, the palliative medicine specialist, surgeon and other members of the multidisciplinary team can each bring their own expertise to provide a patient-centred approach. A case is presented that incorporates some of these principles and exemplifies the benefits of contemporary palliative care for patients with advanced CRC.
Aggarwal
Ghauri
G
Department of Palliative Care, Concord Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia. ghauri@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
Glare
Paul
P
Clarke
Stephen
S
Chapuis
Pierreh
P
D000855:Anorexia / Q000150:complications; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D010166:Palliative Care; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology