Similar symptoms were observed between patients with hematological malignancies and those with solid tumors.
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From thelancet.com
No Significant Differences in Symptoms, Physical Decline in Hematologic Malignancies, Solid Tumors
the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:
Similar symptoms were observed between patients with hematological malignancies and those with solid tumors, according to an article published online in the journal The Lancet Haematology.
This study included 4,638 patients who were at the Silver Chain Hospice Care Service and died between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013.
At each clinical encounter, these participants completed the eight-item Symptom Assessment Scale (0-10, 0 = no distress and 10 = worst distress) and they were assessed for physical function (both assessments were conducted at 7, 30, 60, and 90 days before death).
Results showed that the symptoms that caused the most distress in patients with hematological malignancies (n=224) were fatigue (mean score, 5.2, SD 2.7) and loss of appetite (2.3, SD 2.9), both of which significantly worsened near death (P=0.0035 for fatigue and P=0.016 for loss of appetite).
No significant differences in individual or cumulative symptom scores, changes over time, or the pattern of functional decline were observed when compared to patients with solid tumors (n=4,414).
