Advanced cancer
Cancer has a relatively predictable trajectory in the late stages, when the clinical picture is dominated by constitutional symptoms – cachexia, anorexia, weight loss and fatigue. Development of these symptoms suggests that the cancer is progressing. In advanced cancer, the performance state has prognostic significance.
Palliative chemotherapy may alter disease trajectory in some situations. end-of-Life Palliative Education Resource Centre (EPERC) Fast Facts are available about:
Unpredictable events and emergencies (eg, infection, pulmonary embolus, spinal cord compression) can alter the disease trajectory. It is important to assess whether these are potentially reversible or treatable, and whether treatment is wanted or appropriate.
The benefits and burdens of any treatments should be assessed with regard to the patient’s performance state and wishes.
Comorbidities also contribute to the overall prognosis, and if severe may determine the prognosis, even in patients with metastatic cancer.
Non-malignant conditions
The EPERC Fast Facts summarise prognostic approaches to the following conditions:
The terminal phase
Finding out more
Related CareSearch pages
The Palliative Approach
This page was created on 26 March 2007 and is due for review in March 2009
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