ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The median survival time following chemotherapy for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is approximately 2 years. Although palliative care during the chemotherapy period is very important, it has not been reported in detail. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Information on the palliative care of 110 patients with Stage IV mCRC, who were treated from September 2007 to March 2011, was retrospectively examined. RESULTS: Following an explanation of their recurrence or metastases of mCRC, all the patients received mental care from nurses or psychiatrists. They also needed care to prevent the side effects of chemotherapy. Some patients experienced pain associated with tumor growth. Thus, they required NSAIDs or opioids to reduce the cancer-related pain. After they could not be taken chemotherapy, 87.5% of these patients consulted medical social workers to discuss where they would live. CONCLUSIONS: The patients required palliative care depending on the duration of chemotherapy for mCRC. Thus, we believe that palliative care is an important part of treatment for advanced cancer.
