[Clinical evaluation of lung cancer patients with only best supportive care]

Eighteen cases with only symptomatically treated lung cancer admitted to our hospital from May 2002 to October 2006 were retrospectively investigated clinically. The patients consisted of 10 males and 8 females, aged 50-9 8 years old (mean age 78.1 yo). Clinical stage distribution revealed a higher incidence in the advanced stages. The performance status according to the ECOG classification was predominantly grade 2-4. The average survival time was 5.9 4 months. The cell type was the major prognosticator followed by clinical stage and age. There was a tendency to die early in any case that had a poor whole-body state, such as weight reduction and a feeling of whole body fatigue. There was a tendency for the at home period to be short in cases that required control of pleural effusion, and the survival period was short.