MOST PATIENTS UNDER PALLIATIVE CARE HAVE LUNG CANCER

Most patients under palliative care have lung cancer

April 15, 2011, KOTA KINABALU: Lung cancer tops the list of terminally ill patients seeking care at the Palliative Care Association Kota Kinabalu (PCAKK) last year.

According to PCAKK medical officer Dr Joseph Ninan, the association took care of 198 terminally ill patients, 45 of whom suffered from lung cancer.

Other types of prevalent cancer suffered by the patients cared by the association are colon cancer (15 patients), stomach cancer (14 patients), nasopharynx or nose cancer (14 patients), hepatocellular cancer (13 patients), rectum (nine patients), cervical cancer (nine patients), prostate cancer (five patients), pancreas cancer (five patients), leukemia (five patients) and breast cancer (five patients).

He said that the common cause of lung cancer is smoking.

Aside from cancer patients, PCAKK also now provides support to patients suffering from other types of terminal sickness.

Last year, the association also took in patients suffering from paralysis, emphysema (lung disease), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, end-stage renal failure and liver failure.

By the end of last year, 180 of the patients had passed away. Most of the patients died at home (102 people), while the remaining died at the Palliative Care Unit (63 people), Sabah Medical Centre (four people), Queen Elizabeth Hospital (six people) and other hospitals (five people).

Statistics given to media members also unveiled that six percent of the terminally ill cancer patients were below 20 years old, eight percent fell into the 21 years old and 40 years old category, 35 percent patients were between 41 years old and 60 years old, 42 percent between 61 years old and 80 years old and nine percent comprised patients aged 81 and above.

Dr Joseph added the role of the association is to empower the patient and his or her whole family to cope with the illness.

Aside from helping patients deal with the symptoms associated with the illness, the association also looks at other aspects, namely spiritual care and provide support.

The patients are loaned equipment crucial for their wellbeing free of charge as “We can’t expect them to pay when they have lost their earning power,” he said.