Handbook of Palliative Care in Cancer

Introduction to palliative care. Symbols and abbreviations used in this book. Part 1 Pain control: general considerations; principles and techniques of pharmacologic management. Part 2 Nutrition and hydration. Part 3 Weakness. Part 4 Dermatologic and related problems: smelly tumours; pressure sores; stomas and fistulas; peripheral edema; lymphedema; pruritus; other skin problems. Part 5 Gastrointestinal and abdominal: oral complications and mouth care; anorexia; dysphagia; hiccups; dyspepsia; gastrointestinal bleeding; nausea and vomiting; constipation; faecal impaction; bowel obstruction; diarrhoea and rectal discharge; ascites. Part 6 Respiratory: dyspnea; cough; haemptysis; pleural effusions; superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Part 7 Urinary: urinary incontinence; frequency and retention; haematuria; dysuria and bladder spasms. Part 8 Neurologic and neuropsychiatric: the mental status examination; brain metastases; seizures; spinal cord compression; confusional states; depression and suicide; extrapyramidal drug reactions; anxiety; insomnia. Part 9 Orthopaedic: bone metastases. Part 10 Metabolic: hypercalcaemia; electrolyte abnormalities. Part 11 Fever and infection. Part 12 Terminal care: the final hours. Appendices: drugs used in palliative care - generic and trade names of commonly used drugs, drug profiles; subcutaneous (SQ) infusions; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS); pain management chart - quick reference (inside front cover); pupil-size chart and visual analog scale (inside back cover).