Tracey L. Evans, MD associate professor, clinical medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System, gives advice to oncology nurses on how to manage side effects in patients with lung cancer.

Evans says it is important for nurses to conduct a detailed symptom assessment, because patients are not always forthcoming with all of their side effects. Sometimes patients are worried that revealing symptoms may make them ineligible for certain treatments or clinical trials.

It is also important to screen for psychosocial distress, Evans says. Nurses are at the forefront of determining these aspects of a patient’s disease.

Videos

Tracey L. Evans, MD, associate professor, clinical medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System, gives advice to oncology nurses on how to manage side effects in patients with lung cancer.

Dr. Evans on Managing Side Effects in Lung Cancer Patients

Tracey L. Evans, MD associate professor, clinical medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System, discusses the benefit of advanced lung cancer patients receiving palliative care early in their diagnosis.

Evans says many choices that oncologists make are based on survival benefit. However, there are other factors, such as quality of life, that should play into treatment decisions. In the case of advanced lung cancer, patients can experience symptoms from both the cancer and from the treatment.

A study found that early palliative care integration in advanced lung cancer patients improved depression scores, quality of life metrics and led to improved overall survival, Evans says.

Evans says early integration of palliative care can help manage all aspects of advanced lung cancer patients.

Tracey L. Evans, MD

Articles

Dr. Evans on Managing Side Effects in Lung Cancer Patients

Dr. Evans on the Importance of Integrating Palliative Care Early for Advanced Lung Cancer Patients