• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.310-321
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the level of understanding of hospice palliative care (HPC) and shared decision making (SDM) among middle-aged adults. Methods: Data were collected from 90 middle-aged adults living in D city using a self-reported questionnaire. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data. Results: Among the participants, 76.7% were aware of the HPC while 82.2% of the participants were not aware of SDM. Among all, 85.6% responded positively for needs of HPC, and 77.8% of participants for SDM. Participants with Christian faith (Protestants and Catholics), high income level and present illness were better aware of HPC than others. The most needed services were nursing care and treatment along with systematic counseling and explanation provided by the medical staff. There was also a significant relationship between the HPC factors, gender, income, current health status and current illness status. Participants with high income level were well aware of SDM. Stronger SDM needs were observed among participants with professional jobs or current illness. Conclusion: For continued discussion on HPC and SDM, it is necessary to implement and promote various education programs for medical staff and the public.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.329-334
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was aimed at analyzing the characteristics and symptoms in home-based hospice-palliative care (HBHPC) patients registered at local public health centers. Methods: A retrospective study was performed; Data of 144 HBHPC patients registered at six public health centers in Pusan City were analyzed, including their initial visit records (registration cards, initial pain evaluation and symptom evaluation). Results: The average age of the patients was 67.7 years old. Among all, 46.2% of the patient lived alone, and 65% had middle school education or lower. The most popular (36.3%) religion was Buddhism, and 47.5% received medical assistance from the government. The most frequent diagnosis was lung cancer followed by stomach cancer and liver cancer in that order. Of all, 48.9% were functionally too weak to lead a daily life, 39.6% were under cancer treatment when registered at the public health center, and 84.5% were aware of the fact that they have reached the terminal phase. Moreover, 83.6% complained about pain, and the pain level was moderate or severe in 36.5% of them. Besides pain, fatigue was the most complained symptom (84.7%), and 49.3% of them rated their fatigue as moderate or severe. Conclusion: Most of the HBHPC patients were socio-economically underprivileged and complained about moderate or worse pain and symptoms. Therefore, it appears necessary to develop an integrated strategy that is tailored for each patient reflecting their characteristics.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2015

For patients who are near the end of life, an inevitable step is discussion of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, which involves patients, their family members and physicians. To discuss DNR orders, patients and family members should know the meaning of the order and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) which includes chest compression, defibrillation, medication to restart the heart, artificial ventilation, and tube insertion in the respiratory tract. And the following issues should be considered as well: patients' and their families' autonomy, futility of treatment, and the right for death with dignity. Terminal cancer patients should be informed of what futility of treatment is, such as a low survival rate of CPR, unacceptable quality of life after CPR, and an irremediable disease status. In Korea, two different law suits related to life supporting treatments had been filed, which in turn raised public interest in death with dignity. Since the 1980s, knowledge of and attitude toward DNR among physicians and the public have been improved. However, most patients are still alienated from the decision making process, and the decision is often made less than a week before death. Thus, the DNR discussion process should be improved. Early palliative care should be adopted more widely.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.786-791
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• 1984

Mesothelioma is relatively uncommon tumor compared to other thoracic tumors. It is interesting that there is a strong relationship between occurrence of malignant mesothelioma and exposure to asbestos, which was established during the last two decades. Malignant mesothelioma is discouraging in viewing its treatments and survival rates. Surgery with ancillary treatment, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, were still palliative, although encouraging results were reported. Between 1958 to 1983 at NMC, we have been experienced 6 cases of mesothelioma, confirmed by pathohistologic findings. The patients were distributed between 19 to 52 y-o age & were 5 males and 1 female. There was evidence of exposure to asbestos in 1 case. The method of operation were decortication [1], decortication with removal of tumor [1], pleuropneumonectomy with chemotherapy [1], chemotherapy [1], exploratory thoracotomy [1], and no treatment in 1 case due to private affairs. Histologic findings were 2 cases of benign mesothelioma type.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.922-928
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• 1990

Treatment of patients with esophageal carcinoma remains disappointing. Fewer than 20% *of patients with esophageal carcinoma treated with curative intent by surgery and radiation therapy will be alive at 5 years. Fifty five patients underwent treatment for carcinoma of the esophagus and cardia which retrospective clinical study done between January 1983, and December, 1989 in Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. There were 48 men. 7 women and the mean age was 56.2 years[range, 38 to 78 years]. The most frequent preoperative findings included dysphagia[46 cases], weight loss[33 cases] and substernal pain[19 cases]. 19 cases[34.5%] were underwent resectional surgery, which was total esophagectomy with esophagogastrostomy[ 5 cases], with colon interposition[3 cases], lower esophagectomy with esophagogastrostomy [10 cases], with total gastrectomy and esophagojejunostomy [1 case]. The operative mortality was 15.8%[3/19] and causes of death were respiratory failure in 2 cases, and 1 case of sepsis. Palliative procedures, such as feeding gastrostomy and jejunostomy[14 cases], bypass surgery without resection[ 4 cases], radiation therapy[ 3 cases] were done.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 1984

The author reviewed four cases of multiple lung metastases who were treated by whole lung irradiation alone for palliation. All patients tolerated the treatment well without complication. Two patients who had symptoms from pulmonary metastases had subjective relief of symptoms and all four patients had objective regression of lung metastases on repeat chest X-rays. Present report and review of literature support that some selected patients with multiple lung metastases can be benefited by whole lung Irradiation. However, systemic chemotherapy should be main modality of treatment for this kind of disseminated disease whenever possible.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.123-128
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• 1984

To determine the effectiveness of radiotherapy for pain control in metastatic bone disease, we retrospectively analyzed the treatment results in 126 patients who received short-course radiotherapr(2,000 rad/1wk vs 3,000 rad/2wks) in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital from Feb. 1979 to July 1983. Pain relief was obtained in $82\%$ of patients and complete Pain relief was obtained in $35.3\%$ of patients. The incidence of metastatic bone tumor was highest in spine and pelvis, $43.7\%\;and\;26.3\%$>, respectively. Primary sites of metastasia were lung, breast, unknown primary, stomach, uterine cervix, in order of frequency. There was no significant difference in the response to treatment between 2,000 rad in 1 week and 3,000 rad in 2 weeks.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.201-205
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• 1995

Most of the patient with endobronchial tuberculosis have some degree of bronchial stenosis. however, a part of bronchial stenosis need aggressive treatment for the patency because of severe symptoms. The self-expendable metallic stents provide palliative treatment for narrowed airways where surgical resection is inadvisable. We experienced a successful left wedge pneumonectomy on a 29-year-old woman with obstruction of left main bronchus due to complication of the bronchial stent. She had inserted self-expendable metallic stents on left main bronchus of the tuberculous bronchial stenosis two times. There was no specific postoperative complication.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6177-6180
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• 2014

Background: Our study objectives were to evaluate the medical economics of cervical cancer prevention and thereby contribute to cancer care policy decisions in Japan. Methods: Model creation: we created presence-absence models for prevention by designating human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for primary prevention of cervical cancer. Cost classification and cost estimates: we divided the costs of cancer care into seven categories (prevention, mass-screening, curative treatment, palliative care, indirect, non-medical, and psychosocial cost) and estimated costs for each model. Cost-benefit analyses: we performed cost-benefit analyses for Japan as a whole. Results: HPV vaccination was estimated to cost $291.5 million, cervical cancer screening $76.0 million and curative treatment $12.0 million. The loss due to death was $251.0 million and the net benefit was -$128.5 million (negative). Conclusion: Cervical cancer prevention was not found to be cost-effective in Japan. While few cost-benefit analyses have been reported in the field of cancer care, these would be essential for Japanese policy determination.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.242-245
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• 2012

Background: Treatment of pulmonary metastasis from urothelial cell carcinoma has been mostly palliative chemotherapy and the role of pulmonary metastasectomy has not been investigated much. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective interim review of pulmonary metastasectomy from urothelial carcinoma at single institution between 1998 and 2010. Overall 16 patients underwent pulmonary metastasectomies. Results: There was no postoperative complication or hospital mortality. Mean hospital stay was 6 days. Overall and disease-free 5-year survival were 65.3% and 37.5%, respectively. Conclusion: In selected patients with pulmonary metastasis from urothelial carcinoma, surgical treatment is feasible and could contribute to long-term survival in selected patients.