Nutrition and Hydration in the Terminally Ill Cancer Patient: The Nurse’s Role in Helping Patients and Families Cope

SUMMARY

Cancer patients and their family members must cope with multiple losses as the disease progresses. The loss of ability to eat and drink is a real and perceived harbinger of the ultimate loss: death. While health care professionals know that these physiologic changes are a normal part of the dying process, families are rarely able to accept them easily. Because these losses have such profound emotional, spiritual, and physical ramifications, it is important that staff be prepared to provide appropriate support and information to patients and families. The suggestions posed in this article may be utilized by all members of the interdisciplinary team.

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Notes on contributors

Constance M. Holden

Constance M. Holden, RN, MSN, is Manager of North Hospice at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, MN.