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Jun 26, 2023 · There are some common symptoms that most often happen in people with cancer who are dying. All might not happen, but it may help you to know about them. Changes in body function. Extreme weakness. May have trouble moving around in the bed and might not be able to get out of bed. May not be able to do much for themselves.
Advanced cancer can cause troubling physical problems. These usually depend on the type of cancer you have and where it has spread. Be sure to talk to your healthcare team about any of these symptoms.
- Angela Morrow, RN
- Pain. Pain is a common symptom experienced near the end of life, although it can vary from person to person. Pain is not only determined by medical conditions that cause pain, like cancer or lung disease, but also by factors like emotional distress, interpersonal conflicts, and the non-acceptance of one’s own death.
- Shortness of Breath. Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, is one of the most common end-of-life symptoms. Even if a person doesn't have lung disease, dyspnea can occur because the organ systems of the body are interconnected.
- Anxiety. Anxiety is normal at the end of life as a person contemplates their own death or struggles through the stages of dying. This is commonly expressed as agitation, worrying, sweating, stomach upset, nausea, sleeping problems, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.
- Decreased Appetite and Thirst. As a body starts to shut down, it no longer needs as many calories and nutrition to function at such lowered levels. Although it is normal for people to refuse food and drink near the end of life—either because they have no desire for it or find the effort of eating or drinking to be too much—it can still be upsetting for families.
As your cancer progresses, you may get chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy. These treatments may help control the cancer or your symptoms. Your oncologist will answer questions about your treatment options.
They may fall asleep while talking. A person may slowly lose consciousness in the days or hours before death. When visiting someone with advanced cancer, be aware that visiting may be tiring and difficult for the dying person. Keep visits short and have fewer people visit at a time.
Routine screenings catch diseases earlier, when they are more straightforward to treat. Noticing one of the following symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer. But to be safe, talk to your doctor about these five signs and symptoms. Unexplained Weight Loss. When you lose weight for no reason, call your doctor.
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Jan 2, 2024 · Common Cancer Symptoms: Detect early signs and symptoms of cancer in men and women like unusual weight loss, fatigue, bleeding, anemia, and sores.
