Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Suffering with advanced cancer.

Keith G Wilson1, Harvey Max Chochinov, Christine J McPherson

  • 1The Rehabilitation Centre, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada. kewilson@ottawahospital.on.ca

Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
|May 2, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Existential Suffering: Intensive Caring and Existential Therapy Informed Communication for Serious Illness Care.

Journal of palliative medicine·2026
Same author

Medical assistance in dying and palliative care in Canada: clinical and ethical considerations in an evolving landscape.

International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)·2026
Same author

"I hope the staff read my mother's story and appreciate the life she lived" what families want ICU healthcare professionals to know about their loved one's.

Journal of critical care·2026
Same author

Twenty Years of Dignity Therapy: Evidence, Challenges, and Implications for Person-Centered Care.

Journal of palliative medicine·2026
Same author

The CAnadian Network for Psychedelic-Assisted Cancer Therapy (CAN-PACT): A Multi-Phase Program Overview.

Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.)·2026
Same author

The best place to die: A reflection on dignity and context.

Palliative & supportive care·2025

Many advanced cancer patients do not perceive suffering. For those who do, suffering is multidimensional, strongly linked to physical symptoms, psychological distress, and existential concerns.

Area of Science:

  • Palliative Care Research
  • Oncology Patient Experience
  • Symptom Management

Background:

  • Suffering is a key concern in palliative care.
  • Limited research explores suffering as a holistic experience.
  • Understanding patient suffering is crucial for effective care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the sense of suffering in advanced cancer patients.
  • To identify the causes and correlates of suffering.
  • To explore the multidimensional nature of suffering.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted semistructured interviews with 381 advanced cancer patients.
  • Assessed physical, social, psychological, and existential concerns.
  • Inquired about overall sense of suffering.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • 49.3% of patients did not report suffering; 25.7% experienced moderate-to-extreme suffering.
  • Moderate-to-extreme suffering correlated with distress across multiple domains.
  • Physical symptoms, psychological distress, and existential concerns predicted suffering.

Conclusions:

  • A significant portion of advanced cancer patients do not identify as suffering.
  • Suffering in advanced cancer is multidimensional.
  • Physical symptoms are the strongest correlates, followed by psychological and existential factors.