Symptom clusters related to specific cancers.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the current research related to symptom clusters in specific cancer diagnoses.


METHODS
Research studies, review articles.


CONCLUSIONS
Factors that can impact symptoms and their relationship include the stage of disease, treatment used, modification of treatment for the individual patient, patient co-morbidities as well as psychological, sociological, and cultural factors. Understanding is needed regarding which of these factors individually or in combination contribute to symptoms clustering together. The mechanism underlying symptom perception and interpretation need further exploration. Research focus should be on one type of cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptom cluster research offers little at this point to be helpful in patient diagnosis, assessment, monitoring, or management of disease.
Gift
Audrey G
AG
Michigan State University, College of Nursing, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. agift@msu.edu
D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*