Principles of palliative care for advanced gynaecological cancers

Abstract

Women with gynaecological malignancies often suffer significant physical and psychological symptom burden throughout the course of their disease. Despite advances in treatment, up to 25% of women diagnosed with a gynaecological cancers will die from recurrent disease. A palliative approach – delivered by the Gynaecology team, supported by a Specialist Palliative Care team as needed – can be offered alongside curative or life prolonging treatment as well as at end of life. This article reviews the management of common physical symptoms and complications experienced by patients with advanced gynaecological malignancies, including pain, nausea and vomiting, malignant bowel obstruction, constipation, malignant ascites, fistulating and fungating disease, anaemia and bleeding, and ureteric obstruction.