Introduction
Cancer diagnosis is a terrible and a drastically transforming experience for a patient and their family. It requires a massive adjustment to a new life, full of dreaded experiences like multiple surgeries, radiation, chemotherapies, screening procedures, painful waiting period for results, and life expectancies. It also calls for new learning experiences. The chances of survival for patients in the advanced stages of cancer are very often low since cancer becomes almost impossible to eradicate or eliminate in these stages.
What Is Terminal Cancer?
Terminal cancer (also called end-stage cancer) is a majorly advanced stage of cancer. This final stage of any cancer occurs before the death of a patient. It is a state in which cancer worsens and the condition becomes incurable.
How Does Terminal Cancer Lead To Death?
The following can be the reasons for death to occur in cancer -
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At times, the cancerous cells absorb the healthy nutrients essential for the body, hindering the health condition to improve.
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More likely the complications in the treatments cause death.
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Disruption in the functioning of any organ for a long time can lead to terminal cancer, which finally ends up in death.
Are All Advanced Cancers Terminal Cancers?
Not all advanced-stage cancers are terminal. Sometimes, the final stages of cancer can be cured depending on the patient's clinical condition. However, there is no treatment as such for terminal cancer except to focus on the palliative management of symptoms.
What Cancers Turn Out to Be Terminal, and How?
The following are a few examples of cancer that can turn out to be terminal -
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Gastrointestinal Cancer - Gastrointestinal cancer (the cancer of the digestive system) is cancer affecting the tube carrying the food, the pancreas, stomach, and intestines. As a result, the organs in the digestive system will not be able to process and digest the food, which causes malnutrition in patients.
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Lung Cancer - As the lungs are primarily affected, disruption in breathing and oxygen supply to the lungs occurs because of the cancer, making it difficult for the patient.
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Bone and Bone Marrow Cancer - Affected bones may be brittle, and the release of excess calcium leads to mild loss of consciousness and even death. There will be a disturbance in the process of making healthy blood vessels causing low red blood cells and little oxygen in the blood. The lower white blood cells will make it difficult to fight the disease. A low blood platelet count will also lead to normal bleeding.
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Liver Cancer - When the proper functioning of the liver is stopped by the cancerous cells, the chemical balance present in the body gets disturbed. This leads to an inability to remove the toxins making the patient go into a coma.
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Brain Cancer - Bleeding in the brain can hamper the functioning of other organs. It is also related to memory loss and the balance of the body.
What Are Curable Cancers?
Cancers diagnosed in an early stage can be cured at the earliest. Late diagnosis involves managing the symptoms and trying to increase the patient's life span rather than treating the cancer. In this era of advanced medical technology and cures, no cancer can be left untreated, and at the same time, the statement is true depending on certain factors only. For example, early-stage brain cancer can be cured, while later stages are questionable, and it applies to all cancers.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of People Who Have Terminal Cancer?
Not every patient show similar symptoms during terminal cancer. The majority noted signs and symptoms of people who have terminal cancer include.
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Lack of proper response to the treatment.
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Increased progression of the disease.
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Exhaustion and worsening weakness.
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Patients are usually bedridden.
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They are often extremely tired and weak and thus spend significant amounts of time sleeping.
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Muscle loss or thinning.
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Inability to talk and concentrate.
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Lack of interest in carrying out things.
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Decreased rate of breathing.
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Congested or noisy breathing.
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Change of skin color to bluish tinge.
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Reduced production of urine.
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Confusion in identifying people.
What Care Can Be Given During Terminal Cancer?
Few family members try not to reveal the illness to the patient, as it can be distressing to them. In contrast, others tend to explain to patients about the illness so that even the minute changes in the patient's health conditions are identified and addressed.
A few ways in which care can be given are -
Providing Proper Comfort - Caregivers or family members can discuss the necessities for the sufferer and provide them with them. It includes,
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Providing better-cushioned mattresses or chairs.
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Helping the patient change comfortable positions.
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Making the patient aware of surroundings and people to eradicate any confusion.
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It is advised to say better positive affirmations about the patient's health condition rather than letting the patient think negatively.
Easing Pain - Though provided with good comfort, the patient may need additional management to reduce the pain. Palliative care or proper pain control serves as the best pain relief strategy.
How Can Terminal Cancer Be Managed?
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Symptoms that worsen the clinical condition of the patient can be managed.
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Pain is relieved by pain relief therapy.
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Neurological imbalances can be managed by proper psychotherapy. This treatment includes four or five sessions with a counselor discussing the patient's emotional status and helping them not to lose hope.
How Should Patients Be Notified of Their Terminal Cancer Diagnosis ?
Most physicians tend to be optimistic in revealing the patient's condition by affirming good health even during the terminal stages, which builds inner hope and increases the ability of the patient to fight cancer. This small analysis was well observed in women and older adults. It has also been identified that when a patient is diagnosed with terminal cancer, majority people consider it a wastage to invest in getting admitted to a hospital during the final stage.
Conclusion
When a person is diagnosed with terminal cancer, proper precautions and management strategies can be followed to prolong life to a certain extent or to let a person lead a happy life until a certain time. It is a fact that death cannot be escaped, but premature death can be avoided by providing proper care and emotional strength to the patient, caregiver, and family.
