Valoración del sufrimiento en pacientes con cáncer avanzado

Advanced cancer entails multiple fears associated to actual or potential physical symptoms as well as emotional and affective changes, existential issues and a variety of concerns, all contributing dynamically to suffering, which implies a threat to integrity and the exhaustion of resources to cope with it. Suffering assessment requires a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to manage the diversity of experiences and concerns of the patient and family, found mostly in Palliative Care settings. The article reviews the concept and assessment of suffering in advanced cancer patients. Even though there have been important advances in the development of strategies and protocols to maintain and improve patient's well-being, there is still need for research in suffering evaluation given the complexity of the experience.