Such procedures may provide temporary relief from effusions but there is no established surgical role for palliation of pain associated with chest wall invasion. Palliative treatment of more localised symptomatic areas such as painful areas of the chest wall or involvement of the mediastinum may be feasible. Patients that have few or no symptoms may be observed without therapy. A trial of systemic chemotherapy may be offered to fit patients with symptoms requiring palliation. The probability of benefit may be higher with predominately epithelial tumours.
Responses tend to be of short duration.
Rusch V, Saltz L, Venkatraman E, et al. The BCCA doctor in charge should explicitly clarify the physician in charge of palliative patient follow-up. For patients followed by their referring physicians, the BCCA physicians will act as consultants if requested. Living with Lung Cancer A support program for patients, families and friends is co-led by oncology social worker, Sabrina Gaon and oncology nurse, Karen Sill. The program is held during the months of February, April, June, September and November at the Vancouver Cancer Centre.