title: Authors' reply to Phan and Hui.
authors.affiliation: Division of Palliative Care Medicine, Jichi Medical School Hospital, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan. Electronic address: 96079ym@jichi.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.affiliation: Division of Palliative Care Medicine, Jichi Medical School Hospital, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine and Public Health, Jichi Medical University, School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.affiliation: Division of Palliative Care Medicine, Jichi Medical School Hospital, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamba
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010166:Palliative Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index