Terminal Bleeding in Angiosarcoma.

Publication Title

Journal of palliative medicine

Authors

Jaya Mini Gill, Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Pacific Neuroscience Institute and John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CaliforniaFollow
Brian Madden, Palliative Care and Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CaliforniaFollow
Janice Frost, Inpatient Oncology, Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CaliforniaFollow
Rebecca Crane-Okada, Margie Petersen Breast Center, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CaliforniaFollow
Robert L Hulsman, Inpatient Oncology, Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CaliforniaFollow
Kristen Elliott, Palliative Care and Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CaliforniaFollow
Marlon G Saria, Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Pacific Neuroscience Institute and John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CaliforniaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2019

Abstract

Introduction: Terminal bleeding, a distressing symptom experience for patients, caregivers, and health professionals, occurs in a subset of patients in the palliative care setting. Terminal bleeding is often thought of as a large-volume catastrophically fatal event, but it can also occur for a longer period of time and still be the precipitating event for a patient's death. Case Report: We present the case of terminal bleeding in an 87-year-old patient with angiosarcoma, a rare aggressive vascular neoplasm that can occur anywhere in the body but tend to occur more frequently in the head and neck. Discussion: The patient's advanced age and aggressive disease presented challenges in managing the symptoms and precluded many of the conventional recommended interventions to manage bleeding. Conclusion: This case report speaks to the need for multidisciplinary planning that takes prognosis, performance status, previous therapies, and patient preferences into account when caring for patients with advanced cancer.

Specialty/Research Institute

Nursing