Palliating patients who have unresectable colorectal cancer: creating the right framework and salient symptom management.
The last phases of colorectal malignant illness may be the most challenging and saddening for all involved, but they offer opportunities to become the most rewarding. This transformation of hopelessness to fulfillment requires a willingness by surgeon, patient, and patient's family to trust one another to realistically set goals of care, stick together, and not let the treatment of the disease become a surrogate for treating the suffering that characterizes grave illness.
Dunn
Geoffrey P
GP
Department of Surgery and Palliative Care Consultation Service, Hamot Medical Center, 2050 South shore Drive, Erie, PA 16505, USA. gpdunn1@earthlink.net
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010166:Palliative Care; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy