A practical guide to palliative and supportive care medicine is dedicated to the treatment and psychological, social and spiritual support of patients with chronic diseases that cause suffering to patients and caring relatives. The manual discusses the principles of palliative and supportive care, pathomechanism and therapeutic management of patients with the most common and distressing symptoms, such as pain, dyspnoea, fatigue, pressure ulcers and psychological disorders. The management of lymphoedema, the possible most common interactions of the drugs used, the basic principles of anti-cancer treatment with a palliative approach and the most common emergencies, as well as the specifics of care provided to patients with non-cancer diseases are also discussed. The principles of psychological, social and spiritual support provided to both patients and families, quality of life assessment for patients and carers, care for children, patient rights and principles of volunteering are presented. In addition, issues related to ethical problems of care provided to patients with chronic diseases are discussed. The authors of the publication are recognised authorities in their fields. The handbook has been prepared on the basis of the latest data from the literature and evidence-based medicine. The book is primarily aimed at professionals involved in the care of cancer patients and patients diagnosed with other chronic diseases who require palliative and supportive care, as well as students and all those interested in the above issues.
Wojciech Leppert