15. MALIGNANCIES
CHAPTER 15. MALIGNANCIES Debra E. Heidrich and Peg Esper The term cancer refers to a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, with local tissue invasion and…
25. DEPRESSION
CHAPTER 25. DEPRESSION The author would like to acknowledge Kim K. Kuebler for her contributions that remain unchanged from the first edition of this textbook. Peg Esper DEFINITION AND INCIDENCE…
23. DEHYDRATION
CHAPTER 23. DEHYDRATION Kim K. Kuebler and Valarie A. Pompey The issues surrounding dehydration and the implementation of hydration in the palliative and end-of-life care setting to date have been…
20. CACHEXIA AND ANOREXIA
CHAPTER 20. CACHEXIA AND ANOREXIA Peg Esper DEFINITION AND INCIDENCE Cachexia, a complex syndrome associated with metabolic changes, fat and muscle wasting, loss of appetite, and involuntary weight loss, is…
19. BOWEL OBSTRUCTION
CHAPTER 19. BOWEL OBSTRUCTION Debra E. Heidrich and Pamela Sue Spencer DEFINITION AND INCIDENCE Bowel obstruction is defined as abnormally delayed or blocked transit through the intestinal tract (Ripamonti &…
18. ASCITES
CHAPTER 18. ASCITES Debra E. Heidrich DEFINITION AND INCIDENCE Ascites is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The majority of patients with ascites have advanced liver disease—usually…
16. HIV/AIDS
CHAPTER 16. HIV/AIDS James C. Pace At the end of the year 2003 approximately 790,000 to 1.2 million Americans were living with human immune deficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and…
17. ANXIETY
CHAPTER 17. ANXIETY Debra E. Heidrich and Peg Esper DEFINITION AND INCIDENCE Anxiety is an experience of diffuse apprehension or uneasiness, often accompanied by feelings of uncertainty and helplessness and…
