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Improving Quality of Life in Patients with Unresectable Disease

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Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a frequent neoplasia, with considerable physical and psychological symptom burden and mortality. The management of stage IV patients has significantly changed over the last decades and is nowadays interdisciplinary, allowing an important increase in survival and in quality of life. The limited possibilities available for the treatment of colorectal metastases are no longer the rule. Therefore, to provide optimal outcomes for patients with liver metastases, it is imperative to consider all treatment options available, based on each patient’s comorbidities, tumor extent, preferences, and available technical and professional resources. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that there are unique aspects for decision-making that involve clinical, ethical, and communication aspects.

Acute and persistent pain are frequent, and require a multidimensional assessment and approach and the adequate use of opioids.

The inclusion of palliative care, in addition to other specialties, during the course of the illness will promote physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being, and meaningful life experiences for patients and their families.

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Correspondence to Mariela Bertolino MD .

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Bertolino, M., Díaz, N., Mammana, G. (2017). Improving Quality of Life in Patients with Unresectable Disease. In: de Santibañes, E., Ardiles, V., Alvarez, F., Busnelli, V., de Santibañes, M. (eds) Extreme Hepatic Surgery and Other Strategies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13896-1_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13896-1_26

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-13895-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-13896-1

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