Keywords

cancer, chemotherapy, graft vs. host disease, pain, radiation therapy

 

Authors

  1. Lynch, Bethany RN, CNP, ACHPN
  2. Paice, Judith A. PhD, RN

Abstract

As palliative care shifts from care of the dying to a broader focus on an integrated model where treatment is directed to any patient with a life-threatening illness, nurses working in this area will need to become familiar with common pain syndromes seen in those surviving their illness. In particular, pain syndromes in persons surviving cancer are being seen with greater frequency in the clinical setting. These include persistent pain due to surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, stem cell transplant, and hormonal therapy. To illustrate the complex array of complications that can occur as a result of cancer treatment, a case is presented that describes the course experienced by one patient many years after therapy, as well as the management provided by the palliative care and hospice teams.