Supportive and Palliative Care (Coping with Cancer)

• Adjustment to Cancer: Anxiety and Distress (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ¹ [ health professional ] ²
  Expert-reviewed information summary about the difficult emotional responses many cancer patients experience. This summary focuses on normal adjustment issues, psychosocial distress, and adjustment disorders.
• Cardiopulmonary Syndromes (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ³ [ health professional ] ⁴
  Expert-reviewed information summary about common conditions that produce chest symptoms. The cardiopulmonary syndromes addressed in this summary are cancer-related dyspnea, malignant pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and superior vena cava syndrome.
• Cognitive Disorders and Delirium (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ⁵ [ health professional ] ⁶
  Expert-reviewed information summary about cognitive disorders and delirium as complications of cancer or its treatment. Supportive care and pharmacologic approaches to the management of cognitive disorders and delirium are discussed.
• Communication in Cancer Care (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ⁷ [ health professional ] ⁸
  Expert-reviewed information summary about communicating with the cancer patient and his or her family, including unique aspects of communication with cancer patients, factors affecting communication, and training in communication skills.
• Depression (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ⁹ [ health professional ] ¹⁰
  Expert-reviewed information summary about the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of depression in adults and children who have cancer.
• Family Caregivers in Cancer (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ¹¹ [ health professional ] ¹²
  Expert-reviewed information summary about the challenges faced by family caregivers of cancer patients. This summary focuses on typical caregiver roles and concerns, and helpful interventions for caregivers.
• Fatigue (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ¹³ [ health professional ] ¹⁴
  Expert-reviewed information summary about fatigue, a condition marked by extreme tiredness and inability to function because of lack of energy, often seen as a complication of cancer or its treatment.
• Fever, Sweats, and Hot Flashes (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ¹⁵ [ health professional ] ¹⁶
  Expert-reviewed information summary about causes and treatment of fever, sweats, and hot flashes in cancer patients.
• Gastrointestinal Complications (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ¹⁷ [ health professional ] ¹⁸
  Expert-reviewed information summary about constipation, impaction, bowel obstruction, and diarrhea as complications of cancer or its treatment. The management of these problems is discussed.
• Grief, Bereavement, and Coping With Loss (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ¹⁹ [ health professional ] ²⁰
  Expert-reviewed report about grief, bereavement, and feelings of loss in survivors of someone who has died of cancer. Grief in children is also discussed.
• Hypercalcemia (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ²¹ [ health professional ] ²²
  Expert-reviewed information summary about hypercalcemia (high blood calcium levels) as a complication of cancer. Approaches to the treatment of hypercalcemia are discussed.
• Last Days of Life (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ²³ [ health professional ] ²⁴
  Expert-reviewed information summary about care during the last days to last hours of life, including common symptoms, ethical dilemmas that may arise, and the role of the oncologist in caring for patients and their families during this time.
• Lymphedema (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ²⁵ [ health professional ] ²⁶
  Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of lymphedema.
• Nausea and Vomiting (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ²⁷ [ health professional ] ²⁸
  Expert-reviewed information summary about nausea and vomiting as complications of cancer or its treatment. Approaches to the management of nausea and vomiting are discussed.
• Nutrition in Cancer Care (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ²⁹ [ health professional ] ³⁰
  Expert-reviewed information summary about the causes and management of nutritional problems that occur in patients with cancer.
• Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ³¹ [ health professional ] ³²
  Expert-reviewed information summary about oral complications, such as mucositis and salivary gland dysfunction, that occur in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the head and neck.
• Pain (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ³³ [ health professional ] ³⁴
  Expert-reviewed information summary about pain as a complication of cancer or its treatment. Approaches to the management and treatment of cancer-associated pain are discussed.
• Pediatric Supportive Care (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ³⁵ [ health professional ] ³⁶
  Expert-reviewed information summary about the unique issues that arise for children during their treatment for cancer, after the completion of treatment, and as adult survivors of cancer.
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ³⁷ [ health professional ] ³⁸
  Expert-reviewed information summary about post-traumatic stress disorder in cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their family members. Assessment and treatment of this disorder are discussed.
• Pruritus (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ³⁹ [ health professional ] ⁴⁰
  Expert-reviewed information summary about pruritus (itching of the skin) as a complication of cancer or its treatment. Approaches to the management and treatment of pruritus are discussed.
• Sexuality and Reproductive Issues (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ⁴¹ [ health professional ] ⁴²
  Expert-reviewed information summary about factors that may affect sexual functioning in people with cancer. Fertility issues related to cancer treatment are also discussed.
• Sleep Disorders (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ⁴³ [ health professional ] ⁴⁴
  Expert-reviewed information summary about causes and management of sleep disorders in people with cancer.
• Smoking Cessation and Continued Risk in Cancer Patients (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ⁴⁵ [ health professional ] ⁴⁶
  Expert-reviewed information summary about the influence of continued smoking on cancer treatment and risk of second cancers. Interventions to encourage smoking cessation are also discussed.
• Spirituality in Cancer Care (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ⁴⁷ [ health professional ] ⁴⁸
  Expert-reviewed information summary about the influence of spirituality and religion on individuals who have cancer. Various approaches for management and intervention are discussed.
• Transitional Care Planning (PDQ®)
  [ patient ] ⁴⁹ [ health professional ] ⁵⁰
  Expert-reviewed information summary about planning for transitions in level of care (e.g., inpatient to outpatient) for individuals who have cancer.