[Prognosis of survival in advanced cancer].
Accurate prognoses are important in the care of patients with advanced cancer to assist clinicians in their decision making, and to help patients set their goals and priorities. Several studies have demonstrated that doctors are inaccurate and overly optimistic when predicting the survival of patients with advanced and terminal cancer. To improve prognostic accuracy, clinicians can use a number of factors that have proven to be associated with life expectancy: performance status, some signs and symptoms and some laboratory markers. Prognostic scores including most of the factors are also developed. Patients and their families can benefit from realistic prognostic information in a simple and empathetic manner.
Unidad de Medicina Paliativa, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro, Albacete, Spain. jjdearriba@ono.com
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de Arriba Méndez
D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index