Palliative radiotherapy tailored to life expectancy in end-stage cancer patients

Palliative radiotherapy utilization for cancer patients at end of life in British Columbia: retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND The use of palliative radiotherapy (PRT) is variable in advanced cancer. Little is known about PRT utilization by end-of-life (EOL) cancer patients in Canada. This study examined the PRT utilization rates and factors associated with its use in a cohort of cancer patients who died in British Columbia (BC). METHODS BC residents with invasive cancer who died between April 1, 2010 and ...

Contrasting approaches to end of life and palliative care in end stage kidney disease

With increased numbers of the elderly, including nursing home patients, being accepted for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) management, there is heightened interest and focus on end of life decisions, advanced care planning and directives, withdrawal from dialysis and palliative care in this setting. Despite this, care at the individual patient level can vary greatly. Here, we present two contra...

Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients with Xerostomia due to Radiotherapy

Background and Aim: Head and neck cancers (HNC) and their treatment can cause short-term and long-term impairment in patient’s quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to evaluate QOL in HNC patients suffering from xerostomia due to radiotherapy. Material and Methods: This Descriptive analytical study was performed on 44 HNC patients suffering from xerostomia experiencing radiotherapy f...

Life expectancy estimation in prostate cancer patients.

End stage heart failure patients - palliative care in general practice.

BACKGROUND Chronic heart failure is common, particularly in older individuals, and comorbidities are frequent. Patients with end stage heart failure can be highly symptomatic and require careful monitoring and treatment adjustment to improve symptoms. OBJECTIVE This article summarises the fundamentals of implementing palliative care in general practice and provides guidelines on caring for ch...