Abstract
“…and if you get stronger, and your appetite and nutrition improve, we can consider some more chemo.” I walked in on Mr Jones as the oncology team was finishing their visit. I was consulted to speak about goals of care, and to introduce the concept of hospice care. Mr Jones was a 65-year-old man battling metastatic colon cancer that had spread to his liver and lungs. He was now bedbound receiving oxygen, intravenous fluids, and antibiotics for a presumed pneumonia, pain and nausea drugs, and various high-calorie, high-protein nutritional drinks that sat untouched on his bedside table. His respirations were somewhat laboured and rapid, and his body cachectic, but he smiled as I took a seat. His wife of 43 years sat on the other side of the bed, her face etched in sorrow. Oncology perspectives: a call for essaysCancer affects many people; patients, oncologists, nurses, policy makers, family members, and colleagues to name a few. To mark the 40th anniversary of Nixon's war on cancer, The Lancet Oncology would like to hear from those of you affected at the frontline in a one-off essay competition. Full-Text PDF
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