Klin Onkol 2001; 14(Zvláštní číslo): 1-5.
Summary: Palliative treatment is indicated in up to 75% of oncological patients at some stage of the disease; at diagnosis, it is the only viable option in 50%. Therefore its importance can hardly be overemphasized. Its principal goal is maintaining or improving the patient’s quality of life. Modern palliative treatment is both highly active and complex, including psychosocial care as well as pharmacotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical interventions. In patients with lung cancer, respiratory symptoms and signs tend to be predominant. Their meticulous analysis is essential prior to the treatment in order to differentiate which symptoms are due to the tumour proper and which arise from antitumour therapy, concomitant disease or general malaise. An indepth overview is presented of current therapeutics of dyspnea, cough, singultus, haemoptysis, and pleural pain in patients with advanced lung cancer. Up-to-date methods of relieving dyspnea caused by localized tumour obstruction are particularly highlighted.
