• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.211-217
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• 2005

Objectives : Terminal stage cancer patient from primary hepatocellular carcinoma metastasized into lungs was administered with cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture for 5 months and observed progression. Methods : Cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture was administered 5 times a week at about 150cc dosage per week. Dynamic CT was taken and interpreted at a university hospital. Results : Above patient was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and received one procedure of lobectomy and three procedures of TACE, but because of metastasis, chance of improvement was very obscure. Intensive treatment of cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture five times a week for five months in association with moxibustion was done on the patient. Near elimination of the cancer cells metastasized into lungs were confirmed in terms of radiological impression through dynamic CT. Conclusion: From the results obtained in this study, cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture can be an effective measure against terminal stage cancer. But this is a single case study and lack of extensive follow-up must be compensated by further researches.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.567-573
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• 2008

Cancer is now the leading fatal disease in every developed country. Due to very low efficiency of conventional cancer therapeutics and important aspect of quality of life (QOL), complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) has been accepted worldwide, especially by late-staged cancer patients. Oriental medicine traditionally has stressed not only the tumor itself but the body having cancer, improving cancer-related immunity and extending survival period. Herein, we report one case of a terminal staged rectal cancer patient having spread-metastasis but showing a meaningful clinical course of around four years with Oriental medicine therapies. This study aimed to report the clinical capacity of Oriental medicine for patients with cancerous disease, to help development of Oriental medicine-derived anticancer treatments.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.668-677
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• 1996

This study is a phenomenological study done to promote understanding of the dying process in patients with terminal cancer who were in an independent hospice center. The purpose of study was to explore and understand indepth information on the dying process in order to provide data for holistic hospice care in nursing and to give insights in to practical applications in the nursing care In-depth interviewing was done from may, through November, 1995 with 11 patient with cancer who were being cared for at K Hospice Care Center. Experiences in the dying process were discussed as they expressed feelings about death including (a) feeling of isolation because family members try to hide the diagnosis of cancer. (b) hopelessness, (c) guilt, anger, and hostility, (d) suffering from pain, (e) fear of death. However, subjects did not deny death itself and were developing peace of mind and acceptance of death through religion.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.543-553
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare symptoms, medical therapies, and nursing interventions with terminal cancer patients during the last four weeks of their lives in a hospice unit and general units. Method: For the descriptive survey study, data were collected by reviewing the medical records of 243 patients who died of terminal cancer at K hospital in Seoul. The data was analyzed by using Chi-square test and t-test. Result: The study findings are summarized as follows: There were higher frequencies in physical symptoms of constipation, itching sensation, pain, sleeping disturbance, soreness and dysuria for those patients in the hospice unit than those patient in general units. All emotional symptoms were recorded significantly higher for those patients in the hospice unit than those in general units. Regarding the major medical interventions, pain management was used more significantly for those patients in the hospice unit, but antibiotic therapy and resuscitation were used more significantly for those patients in general units. Conclusion: The hospice unit provided more comprehensive nursing interventions including psychological, spiritual, and family cares as well as physiological care for terminal cancer patients. The facts showed that those patients who would need hospice care in general units should be referred to the hospice unit at an appropriate time.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.183-187
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• 2012

The importance of palliative care for terminal cancer patients has been emphasized globally. Korea has formulated and implemented its policy for cancer control as it drew up a 10-year plan for cancer patient care. We examined Korea's National Cancer Act and the second 10-year plan for cancer patient care, which are legal grounds for palliative care projects for terminal cancer patients, to check the current status of Korea's efforts to establish a hospice and palliative care system. Institutionalization of hospice and palliative care has been developed within a framework of the national cancer project. Efforts such as expansion of hospice units, experts training and quality improvement should continue after the reimbursement of hospice and palliative care begins in 2013.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.180-188
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• 2019

Purpose: To investigate the duration of each nursing activity performed by home care nurses for non-cancer patients and the relationship between patients' palliative prognostic index (PPI) and duration of each nursing activity. Methods: Nursing activities performed for six non-cancer terminal patients were timed using a stopwatch, and 18 parameters were measured by visiting each patient thrice. The mean and standard deviations of duration for each category of nursing activities were computed. The relationship between category-specific duration of nursing activities and PPI was analyzed with Spearman's correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results: Among nursing activities, the highest greatest duration of time was spent on traffic time (11.91 min), followed by urinary catheter management (10.65 min) and insertion and management of nasogastric tube (9.03 min). In terms of nursing categories, after excluding movement time, the greatest duration of time was spent on excretion care (5.48 min), nutrition care (5.40 min), and medication (3.82 min). PPI correlated with hygiene care, excretion care, and patient and information management. Multiple regression analysis revealed that PPI increased with increasing duration of hygiene care. Conclusion: These study findings provide grounds for the increased nursing time of hygiene care for people reaching the end of life.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2010

Purpose: To evaluate medications at the end of life care for terminal cancer patients during their last admission. Methods: Medical records of terminal cancer patients during their last admission from July 2003 to April 2008 at a district academic hospital were evaluated. Patient's characteristics, therapeutic drug classification during their last admission and on the patient's day of death, and the administrated route and number of medications on the patient's day of death were analyzed. Results: Total 81 patients were included. The median patient age was 63 years. The median length of admission was 18 days (range: 1~101). 54% of the patients had more than one comorbidities. The most frequently prescribed drugs during the last admission were opioid analgesics (63%), followed by antibiotics (58%) and antacids (53%). On the day of death, common medications were antibiotics (59%), antacids (58%), and opioid analgesics (46%). Intravenous injection was given to 81% of the patients and intramuscular injection was given to 16% of the patients on the day of patient's death. Number of medications prescribed to patients was between 0 and 11 (median: 3) and 12% (10/81) of the patients took over 8 medications including intravenous and oral drugs on the day of death. 6% (5/81) of the patients took potentially futile medications, like multivitamin or statin until the day of death. Conclusion: This study suggests that potentially futile medications and uncomfortable care were given to terminal cancer patients. Multicenter-based studies are necessary to diminish futile medications by essential medication at the end of life care for terminal cancer patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.208-224
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• 2002

Objective : Gastic cancer has become major cancers which cause nausea, vomiting. Especially patients with terminal stage of gastric cancer may suffer from nausea, vomiting and other symptoms that can keep patients from taking medicine or food. In those cases, there may be no use of taking herbal medicine to treat or palliate symptoms. So we wanted to know the potential efficiency of Acupuncture and Moxibustion whether they could control the symptoms of terminal stage of Gastric cancer without herbal medicine. Methods : Under the assumption that Acupuncture and Moxibustion may be effective for palliating nausea, vomiting on terminal stage of Gastric cancer, the following points were administrated SaGwan(Hapkok($LI_4$), Taechung($LR_3$)), Chok-Samli($ST_{36}$), Kongson($SP_4$), Naegwan($PC_6$) for Acupuncture, Chungwan($CV_{12}$) for Moxibustion. This observation was carried out on 11 patients with terminal stage of Gastric cancer. We reviewed medical records, specifically intake/output check with vomiting, nausea. Results : After therapy of Acupunture and Moxibustion, there were 22% of complete responses, 46% of major responses and 32% of failures. Therapy resulted in 2 cases of goodness, 4 cases of fairness, 5 cases of badness as satisfaction degree. Unfortunately 2 cases of badness expired. Conclusion : We have concluded that Acupunture and Moxibusiton therapy were effective to palliate the nasea, vomiting of terminal Gastric cancer. So if Gastric cancer develop difficulties of taking medicine with patients, to consider using the methods of Acupunture and Moxibution is worthy to palliate the nausea, vomiting and so on.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.240-245
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• 2007

It is important to treat cancer-related pain in cancer patients to ensure the life quality of the patient, as well as to improve their life span. It has been estimated that at least 5% of cancer patients have pain refractory to medical treatment. Therefore, the need for epidural or intrathecal analgesia with opioids and local anesthetics is indicated if systemic treatment has failed. Intrathecal catheter placement and implantation of the injection port for administration of opioids and local anesthetics may improve pain relief in patients who are unresponsive to epidural routes. Although intrathecal implantation has several complications, similar infection rates have been reported between intrathecal and epidural administration. In addition, intrathecal administration showed better outcomes, including improved pain control, lowered daily doses, and an improvement in the level of drowsiness experienced when compared to epidural administration. We report here a case in which a terminal cancer patient was treated using an intrathecal catheter and subcutaneous port. The patient had cancer-related pain that could not be controlled by epidural opioid administration. Based on the results presented here, we suggest that intrathecal implantation is a feasible long term pain management method for intractable cancer pain patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4655-4660
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• 2013

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide due to its generally poor prognosis. Caregiver burden for liver cancer cases is higher than with other cancer and needs especial attention. Methods: To explore the experiences of families of patients with newly diagnosed advanced terminal stage hepatocellular cancer by interview. Results: Nine participants were recruited in this study. Content analysis of the interviews revealed four themes: blaming oneself, disrupting the pace of life, searching all possible regimens, and not letting go. Conclusions: This study provides new insight into the needs and support of family members especially when they are facing loved ones with newly diagnosed advanced terminal stage HCC. These results will inform future supportive care service development and intervention research aimed at providing assistance in reducing unmet supportive care needs and psychological distress of these family members.