My doctor says there is nothing more that can be done.
This page was last updated on February 21, 2000.
While it is true that many patients will go on to die of lung cancer
despite all treatments available at this time, it is usually possible to
provide some prolongation of life, and almost always possible to provide
comfort and dignity to the patient during this difficult time.
The take-home message from the Southern California Pain Control Initiative
Meeting at City of Hope, on December 3, 1997 was that nurses experienced
in the care of cancer patients hate the statement; "there is nothing
more that can be done" because it is almost never true.
They emphasize that the correct philosophical approach should always
be.
To provide cure sometimes
To relieve often
To comfort always.
Because of the current atmosphere in which shortened hospital stays
are emphasized by insurance entities and managed care organizations, the
care of cancer patients is increasingly being done in Hospice and Home
Care settings. Some informative and helpful links on these topics can be
found at these locations
| City of Hope
Pain/Palliative Care Resource Center |
|
| Home
Care for Advanced Cancer Patients |
An excellent new web site from the American College of Physicians provides
an entire textbook of Home Care for Advanced Cancer Patients directed specifically
for the caregiver. |
| Before I
Die: Pain |
Do I Have to Die in Pain? |
| 20 Commonly Asked Questions |
National Hospice Organization: General Information: 20 commonly asked
questions. |
| Health Care Services |
Institute of Medicine Division of Health Care Services From the Institute
of Medicine_ APPROACHING DEATH: Improving Care at the End of Life |
| Dying Well |
Dr. Ira Byock of Missoula, Montana has an excellent web page with a
book list and collection of links on hospice and home care. |
| Clinical Information |
The full text of the AHCPR guidelines on management of cancer pain
.From the home page, click on "Clinical Information". On the
following page, click on "Clinical Practice Guidelines Online".
Then chose the type of publication (professional, layman, Spanish) and
#9. ( Sorry to make it so complex, but AHCPR requests that all links be
to their home page.) |
An extensive collection of documents relating to pain control has been
collected by Jane Roach and Betty Ferrell PhD at the
City of Hope National Medical Center
Nursing Research and Education/ City of Hope
Pain/Palliative Care Resource Center
1500 East Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010
626-359-8111 Ext. 3829
FAX 626-301-8941
Email mayday_pain@smtplink.coh.org
An
excellent resource for training in Home Care of cancer patients has been
prepared by Betty Ferrell PhD, FAAN, Marcia Grant DNSc, FAAN and Rose Virani
RNc, BSN, MHA, OCN of the City of Hope Department of Nursing Research and
Education, who have established HOPE: Home Care Outreach for Palliative
Care Education. Funded by Project on Death in America Open Society Institute.
This program includes five modules, an extensive bibliography and other
teaching materials
Frederic W.
Grannis Jr. M.D
If you have trouble contacting me with the address above,
I may also be reached at 76516,2333@compuserve.com
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