Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care

Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (한국호스피스완화의료학회)
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Management of Non-pain Symptoms in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients: Based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines

말기암환자에서 통증 외 증상의 관리: 최신 NCCN(National Comprehensive Cancer Netweork) 권고안을 중심으로

  • Lee, Hye Ran (Division of Hemato/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital)
  • 이혜란 (인제대학교 일산백병원 혈액종양내과)
  • Received : 2013.11.02
  • Accepted : 2013.11.21
  • Published : 2013.12.01
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Abstract

Most terminally ill cancer patients experience various physical and psychological symptoms during their illness. In addition to pain, they commonly suffer from fatigue, anorexia-cachexia syndrome, nausea, vomiting and dyspnea. In this paper, I reviewed some of the common non-pain symptoms in terminally ill cancer patients, based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines to better understand and treat cancer patients. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common symptom in terminally ill cancer patients. There are reversible causes of fatigue, which include anemia, sleep disturbance, malnutrition, pain, depression and anxiety, medical comorbidities, hyperthyroidism and hypogonadism. Energy conservation and education are recommended as central management for CRF. Corticosteroid and psychostimulants can be used as well. The anorexia and cachexia syndrome has reversible causes and should be managed. It includes stomatitis, constipation and uncontrolled severe symptoms such as pain or dyspnea, delirium, nausea/vomiting, depression and gastroparesis. To manage the syndrome, it is important to provide emotional support and inform the patient and family of the natural history of the disease. Megesteol acetate, dronabinol and corticosteroid can be helpful. Nausea and vomiting will occur by potentially reversible causes including drug consumption, uremia, infection, anxiety, constipation, gastric irritation and proximal gastrointestinal obstruction. Metoclopramide, haloperidol, olanzapine and ondansetron can be used to manage nausea and vomiting. Dyspnea is common even in terminally ill cancer patients without lung disease. Opioids are effective for symptomatic management of dyspnea. To improve the quality of life for terminally ill cancer patients, we should try to ameliorate these symptoms by paying more attention to patients and understanding of management principles.

말기암환자들은 암의 진행으로 인한 여러 가지 육체적, 정신적 증상들로 고통 받고 있으며, 통증뿐만 아니라 피로감, 쇠약감, 식욕부진, 오심 구토, 호흡곤란 등은 말기암환자의 삶의 질 감소에 큰 영향을 미친다. 피로감은 여러 기전 및 원인에 의하여 발생하는데, 치료 가능한 원인으로는 약물부작용, 빈혈, 심한 통증, 수면장애, 우울증 또는 불안감, 영양부족, 내과적 동반질환 등이다. 피로감의 주 기전으로는 사이토카인의 조절이상 및 시상하부-뇌하수체-부신축의 기능부전, serotonin의 조절이상 생체리듬의 파괴, ATP에서의 변화 등이다. 치료는 치료 가능한 원인을 제거하고 환자의 에너지를 보존할 수 있게 하는 방향으로 활동을 계획하고, 교육해야 하며, 약물 치료로는 corticosteroid와 psychostimulants를 사용할 수 있다. 식욕부진과 악액질도 여러 가지 치료 가능한 원인이 있을 수 있는데, 구내염, 구강 캔디다증, 구강 herpes, 구강건조, 변비, 통증과 호흡곤란같이 조절이 안 되는 증상, 섬망, 오심 구토, 우울증, 위장관 운동기능 장애, 역류성 식도염, 내분비 장애가 포함 된다. 식욕부전의 기전은 음식섭취를 조절하는 뇌의 생리적 기전의 이상과 관련, serotonin 분비 증가, IL-$1{\alpha}$, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 TNF-${\alpha}$와 관련이 있다. 악액질의 기전은 에너지와 기질(substrate metabolism)에서의 변화, 종양에서 생산된 지질분해요소와 단백질 분해요소, 호르몬 이상, 암세포로부터 세포성장에 필요한 영양분을 빼앗기는 것, 에너지 섭취의 감소 등이다. 치료는 정신과 상담 및 환자와 가족의 교육인데, 교육할 때는 환자와 그 가족에게 식욕부진과 악액질이 암으로 인한 임종과정 중 일어나는 자연적인 현상이라는 것을 알리며, 다른 행동으로 환자를 돌보는 방법 등을 교육한다. 약물치료로는 megestrol acetate와 dronabinol, steroid를 사용할 수 있다. 오심 구토의 원인 중 치료가 가능할 수도 있는 것으로는 약물, 요독증, 감염, 불안증, 변비, 상부위장관 폐쇄, 고칼슘혈증, 저나트륨증이 있고, 치료는 metoclopramide, haloperidol, olanzapine 또는 ondansetron 등을 사용해 볼 수 있다. 말기 암에서 호흡곤란의 증상은 폐의 특별한 병변이 없이도 환자가 호소할 수 있는데, 이 경우 opioids가 효과적이다. 말기 암환자에서 환자의 증상을 경감시켜주기 위한 완화치료는 매우 중요하며, 환자의 증상을 잘 평가하고 적절한 치료 및 관리를 해 줌으로써 환자의 삶의 질을 향상시킬 수 있다. 따라서 이들 환자의 증상 호소에 더욱 관심을 갖고 적극적으로 치료하고 관리하여야 할 것이다.

Keywords

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