Physical Issues

While not all patients who are dying of cancer experience the same issues, there are 10 physical problems that occur the most often. They are: 

• Pain: occurs in 50% to 70% of patients with cancer 
• Weight loss: 45% to 70% 
• Fatigue or weakness: 40% to 50% 
• Lack of appetite or anorexia: 40% to 75% 
• Difficulty sleeping or insomnia: 30% to 60% 
• Constipation: 25% to 50% Depression: 20% to 30% N
• ausea and vomiting: 15% to 45% 
• Difficulty breathing or dyspnea: 20% to 50% 
• Anxiety: 10% 

As patients near the end-of-life, they can experience any or all of the symptoms, as shown by the overlapping percentages listed above. 

There are also other symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), confusion, and difficulty voiding, or passing urine. These problems can be caused by the cancer itself, medications, or a combination of the two. As well, what symptoms a patient experiences depends a lot on what type of cancer he or she has. While constipation and difficulty breathing does affect patients with any type of cancer, colon cancer will directly affect the bowels and the ability to eat or drink; lung cancer will affect the breathing. Other issues, such as fatigue and depression, can cross all types of illness. 

References: 

Donnelly S, Walsh D. The symptoms of advanced cancer. Semin Oncol 1995;22:67-72. 

Vainio A, Auvunen A and members of the symptom prevalence group. Prevalence of symptoms among patients with advanced cancer: an international collaborative study. J Pain Symptom Manage 1996;12:3-10. 

Wachtel T, Allen-Masterton S, Reuben D, Goldberg R, Mor V. The end stage cancer patient: terminal common pathway. Hospice J 1988;4:43-80. Palliative Care, The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol. 265. No. 7119. Pp. 603-614