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Palliative Care in Urological Cancer

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Urological Oncology

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Abstract

Palliative care is a holistic approach to the care of patients with advanced, incurable disease. It aims to achieve symptom control by addressing a patient’s physical, spiritual, social and psychological needs. Palliative care is delivered using a multi- disciplinary approach, which also provides support to the patient’s family. There are a number of symptoms that a patient may experience as they are nearing the end of their life and the aim is to control each symptom adequately. Common symptoms that patients with urological cancer may experience are pain, nausea and vomiting, anorexia and weight loss, constipation, lymphedema and haematuria. A palliative care emergency that is often seen in urological cancer is metastatic spinal cord compression. It is vital that this is suspected, diagnosed and treated early to prevent functional disability. Another key concept in palliative care is care of the dying patient. Again, this focuses on symptom control and support for the family. It is important that the dying patient is recognised early to ensure good care can be instituted.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Barts and The London NHS Trust, London, UK

    Jana Jeyakumar MRCP, MBBS

  2. Department of Palliative Medicine, Barts Health NHS Trust and Homerton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, West Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE, UK

    David J. Feuer FRCP

Authors
  1. Jana Jeyakumar MRCP, MBBS
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  2. David J. Feuer FRCP
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David J. Feuer FRCP .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Homerton University Hospital & Formerly St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, United Kingdom

    Vinod H. Nargund

  2. Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

    Derek Raghavan

  3. Radiation Oncology, Cedars Sinai Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Howard M. Sandler

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Jeyakumar, J., Feuer, D.J. (2015). Palliative Care in Urological Cancer. In: Nargund, V., Raghavan, D., Sandler, H. (eds) Urological Oncology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-482-1_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-482-1_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-481-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-482-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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