A study of the relative frequency and importance of gastrointestinal symptoms, and weakness in patients with far advanced cancer: student paper

In this study 50 hospice and hospital patients with far advanced cancer were asked to select, from a series of cards describing symptoms, those symptoms which they had, and to rank in order the five most distressing to them. Using a scoring system it was possible to assess the frequency of all symptoms nominated and to assess which symptoms were most distressing to the patient. Weakness was the most frequent and distressing symptom overall, according to the patients. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as dry mouth, anorexia, constipation and nausea were also common and were considered to be distressing, dry mouth and anorexia more so than pain. Differences were evident between patients in various subgroups: recent versus long admissions; hospice versus hospital patients; and male versus female patients. However it is important to note that weakness was the most frequent and the most distressing symptom for all patient groups.