TY - JOUR
T1 - Expression of existential suffering in two patients with advanced cancer in an acute palliative care unit
AU - Tang, Michael
AU - Nguyen, Nhu Nhu
AU - Bruera, Eduardo
AU - Tanco, Kimberson
AU - Delgado-Guay, Marvin
N1 - Funding Information:
Dr. Marvin Delgado-Guay is supported in part by the National Institutes of Health grant R01CA200867 and has no conflicts of interest. Other authors do not have any conflicts of interest.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Background: Recognizing and managing existential suffering remains challenging. We present two cases demonstrating how existential suffering manifests in patients and how to manage it to alleviate suffering. Case description: Case 1: A 69-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma receiving end-of-life care expressed fear of lying down as he may not wake up. He also expressed concerns of not being a good Christian. Supportive psychotherapy and chaplain support were provided, with anxiolytic medications as needed. He was able to express his fear of dying and concern about his family, and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scores improved. He died peacefully with family at bedside. Case 2: A 71-year-old woman presented with follicular lymphoma and colonic obstruction requiring nasogastric drain of fecaloid matter. Initially, she felt that focusing on comfort rather than cure symbolized giving up but eventually felt at peace. Physical symptoms were well-controlled but emotionally she became more distressed, repeatedly asking angrily, Why is it taking so long to die?. She was supported by her family through Bible readings and prayers, but she was distressed about being a burden to them. An interdisciplinary approach involving expressive supportive counseling, spiritual care, and integrative medicine resulted in limited distress relief. Owing to increasing agitation, the patient and family agreed to titrate chlorpromazine to sedation. Her family was appreciative that she was restful until her death. Conclusion: Existential suffering manifests through multiple domains in each patient. A combination of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic techniques may be needed to relieve end-of-life suffering.
AB - Background: Recognizing and managing existential suffering remains challenging. We present two cases demonstrating how existential suffering manifests in patients and how to manage it to alleviate suffering. Case description: Case 1: A 69-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma receiving end-of-life care expressed fear of lying down as he may not wake up. He also expressed concerns of not being a good Christian. Supportive psychotherapy and chaplain support were provided, with anxiolytic medications as needed. He was able to express his fear of dying and concern about his family, and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scores improved. He died peacefully with family at bedside. Case 2: A 71-year-old woman presented with follicular lymphoma and colonic obstruction requiring nasogastric drain of fecaloid matter. Initially, she felt that focusing on comfort rather than cure symbolized giving up but eventually felt at peace. Physical symptoms were well-controlled but emotionally she became more distressed, repeatedly asking angrily, Why is it taking so long to die?. She was supported by her family through Bible readings and prayers, but she was distressed about being a burden to them. An interdisciplinary approach involving expressive supportive counseling, spiritual care, and integrative medicine resulted in limited distress relief. Owing to increasing agitation, the patient and family agreed to titrate chlorpromazine to sedation. Her family was appreciative that she was restful until her death. Conclusion: Existential suffering manifests through multiple domains in each patient. A combination of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic techniques may be needed to relieve end-of-life suffering.
KW - Acute palliative care unit
KW - Existential distress
KW - Interdisciplinary team
KW - Spiritual distress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85095781271&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85095781271&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1478951520001121
DO - 10.1017/S1478951520001121
M3 - Article
C2 - 33118907
AN - SCOPUS:85095781271
SN - 1478-9515
VL - 18
SP - 748
EP - 750
JO - Palliative and Supportive Care
JF - Palliative and Supportive Care
IS - 6
ER -