Klin Onkol 2001; 14(Zvláštní číslo): 6-9.
Summary: The increasing of tumour diseases has a huge economic impact as a consequence of enormous costs of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. In lung cancer, all this remains without a decisive effect as yet. Despite this unfavourable situation, a considerable number of patients with tumour care cured or at least have a prolonged survival and improved quality of life thanks to the complex oncological care. The supportive therapy is an indispensable constituent or the complex oncological care. Like all modes of therapy it should be planned, combined, and sufficiently dosed. It is aimed at both symptoms and signs associated with the tumour and side effects arising from the treatment, and at the treatment of terminalstage disease. The treatment of the terminal stages should ensure primarily the well-being of the patients. Supportive care includes influencing malaise, psychological support and purposeful co-operation with patient s family. Appropriate supportive treatment brings benefit to the patients and their families alike and, above all, improves the quality of life.
