Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care

Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (한국호스피스완화의료학회)
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Predicting Life Span for Terminal Colon Cancer using Clinical Symptoms

말기 대장암환자에서 중상을 통한 예후 측정 및 증상조절

  • Lee, Do-Haeng (Department of Family Medicine College of Medicine Korea University) ;
  • Choi, Youn-Seon (Department of Family Medicine College of Medicine Korea University) ;
  • Hong, Myung-Ho (Department of Family Medicine College of Medicine Korea University) ;
  • Kim, Jun-Suk (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine Korea University) ;
  • Lee, Kyung-Jin (Hospice of Guro Hospital, Korea University Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Young-Soo (Hospice of Guro Hospital, Korea University Medical Center)
  • 이도행 (고려대학교 의과대학 가정의학교실) ;
  • 최윤선 (고려대학교 의과대학 가정의학교실) ;
  • 홍명호 (고려대학교 의과대학 가정의학교실) ;
  • 김준석 (고려대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 이경진 (고려대학교 구로병원 호스피스) ;
  • 김영수 (고려대학교 구로병원 호스피스)
  • Published : 1999.12.10
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Abstract

Accurately estimating survival times in terminal cancer patients is very difficult for palliative care clinicians. But a reasonably accurate estimate of survival would permit the medical team to : Plan the ideal therapeutic strategy between overtreatment and too early discontinuation of specific therapy. Answer any questions asked by the patient or family. Organize adequate assistance for the patient concerned. Decide on the eligibility of the patient for clinical trials and whether to begin a treatment, the effects of which will not be immediate. This case was a 79 year-old male patient with colon cancer. He complained of dry mouth, anorexia, weight loss and showed KPS $40{\sim}50$ on admission day. 40 days later he died. To improve patient/family quality of life, it is necessary to improve the ability to estimate accurately a patient's length of survival.

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