UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Patients with advanced cancer develop a number of devastating physical and psychosocial symptoms. Physical symptoms such as fatigue, pain, dyspnea, and nausea occur simultaneously and therefore their assessment and management needs to be as a group rather than individually. Psychosocial symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and progressive delirium are quite common and patients should undergo screening for these symptoms on a regular basis.

In recent years it has become apparent that many symptoms share a common pathophysiology including the production of tumor by-products and cytokine response by the host. Patients with cancer should undergo regular screening of the most common symptoms using very simple and reliable tools. Symptom management includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the most common symptoms and excellent communication between healthcare professionals and the patients and families. Particular attention to the patient's decision making strategy and the use of communication aids such as audio cassettes, prompt sheets, and telephone interventions have significantly improved the ability of healthcare professionals to improve symptom control in patients in the community.

Unfortunately, very limited resources are available for research in this important area.