Symptom management

Abstract

Advanced disease is associated with much suffering. Emotional, spiritual, and social pains are a significant component of this distress. Alleviation of physical discomforts allows patients to cope with other aspects of suffering. The common symptoms of pain, nausea, and vomiting, respiratory distress, cachexia, delirium, and insomnia readily respond to systematic treatment. The use of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic tools is described in this chapter.