Symptoms and Suffering at the End of Life in Children with Cancer

Cancer is the leading cause of nonaccidental death in childhood. 1 There has, however, been little evaluation of the overall experience at the end of life of children who are dying of cancer or of their symptoms other than pain. 2 , 3 A number of studies have demonstrated that among adults, the quality of care at the end of life is suboptimal. 4 – 8 For example, one study of elderly patients found that there was considerable suffering at the end of life, with up to 25 percent of patients experiencing moderate-to-severe pain in the last three days of life. 7 It is not known . . .