Table 2.
All documented symptoms prior to different palliative treatment decisions. (Due to the small numbers, only documented symptoms at the time of first- and second-line chemotherapy and best supportive care decision are displayed).
| Symptom | First-line palliative chemotherapy (n = 50) |
Second-line palliative chemotherapy (n = 28) |
Best supportive care (n = 48) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom prevalence | Symptom prevalence | Symptom prevalence | |
| Pain | 25 (50%) | 23 (82%) | 38 (79%) |
| Breathlessness | 10 (20%) | 11 (40%) | 21 (44%) |
| Nausea and vomiting | 11 (22%) | 5 (18%) | 17 (35%) |
| Fatigue | 9 (18%) | 5 (18%) | 16 (33%) |
| Constipation | 6 (12%) | 2 (7%) | 8 (17%) |
| Cough | 3 (6%) | 3 (11%) | 9 (19%) |
| Feeling bloated | 9 (18%) | 2 (7%) | 3 (6%) |
| Weight loss | 6 (12%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (2%) |
| Low appetite | 4 (8%) | 0 (0%) | 9 (19%) |
| Diarrhoea | 1 (2%) | 0 (0%) | 4 (8%) |
| Dry mouth | 1 (2%) | 1 (4%) | 3 (6%) |
| Trouble sleeping | 2 (4%) | 0 (0%) | 4 (8%) |
| Numbness/tingling in hands/feet | 0 (0%) | 1 (4%) | 3 (6%) |
| Problems with urination | 2 (4%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (4%) |
| Sweats | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (2%) |