Why People With Cancer Go To The Emergency Room

Why People With Cancer Go To The Emergency Room

Cancer patients most often head to the emergency department for pain, nausea, and shortness of breath, research finds.

There are an estimated 15 million people in the United States with active cancer.

“We are seeing patients with active cancer every single day in our emergency department and most cancer centers with attached emergency departments are experiencing the exact same thing,” says David Adler of the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is a professor of emergency medicine and public health sciences, and works at Strong Hospital.

As reported in JAMA Network Open, the researchers were able to detect patterns and details about patient conditions, in real time, and use the information to formulate goals for improvements.


 Get The Latest By Email

Weekly Magazine Daily Inspiration

The study involved 1,075 patients at 18 emergency departments associated with cancer centers in the US. The majority had received cancer treatment in the preceding 30 days and more than half had advanced or metastatic disease.

Pain was a problem in 62% of the patients. Poorly controlled pain was common during the week before the emergency department visit, the study finds.

Surprisingly, Adler notes, only 8% of patients with active cancer had been engaged with palliative care services, which focuses on preventing and treating pain and other symptoms, and improving quality of life.

In addition, more than half of the patients across the US who came to emergency departments had not signed an advanced directive. This is a document stating the patient’s expressed wishes about medical care if he or she cannot communicate.

“This is a system failure,” Adler says. “Whether the issue lies with primary care doctors or oncologists, or others—the problem is that when a cancer patient gets to the emergency department it may be too late to see this through.”

Another key finding: two-thirds of the patients were admitted to the hospital from the emergency department, but 25% of them stayed less than two days—suggesting an opportunity for better outpatient management, Adler says.

“One reason that emergency physicians may choose to admit cancer patients is to guarantee that the patient connects with a specialist or an oncologist as soon as possible,” he says. “If you discharge a patient, it allows for risk of inadequate follow-up, especially if the person lives in a rural or underserved area.”

Goal-oriented collaborations among oncologists, palliative care, and emergency physicians are needed, the study concludes.

In a further analysis of the same data, Adler and colleague Beau Abar, associate professor of emergency medicine, confirm the validity of a triage tool widely used by emergency departments for patients with active cancer.

About the Authors

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center led the larger national study; Adler led the local research in Rochester, New York. The physicians and researchers who participated are part of the Comprehensive Oncologic Emergencies Research Network (CONCERN), which the National Cancer Institute supports.

Original Study

books_health

Monday, 24 July 2023 16:37

Uterine fibroids, or leiomyomas, are benign tumors commonly occurring in the uterus. They affect many women, particularly African Americans, and can lead to clinical symptoms such as abnormal...

Friday, 21 July 2023 15:37

During uncomfortably hot weather, people seek ways to cool down their homes. Air conditioners often become the default solution when temperatures rise as they provide fast and effective relief from...

Friday, 21 July 2023 14:28

  Brushing your teeth is essential for maintaining optimal oral health, but like most aspects of health, the full story is more complicated.

Friday, 21 July 2023 06:06

Are you seeking a gentle yet powerful practice that brings balance to your body and mind? Look no further than Tai Chi. 

Friday, 21 July 2023 05:40

  As the world grapples with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge of interest and concern regarding vaccines. Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing infectious diseases,...

Thursday, 20 July 2023 22:38

As the temperatures rise during the summer months, it's important to be aware of the risks associated with extreme heat.

Thursday, 20 July 2023 15:45

People who exercise only on the weekend have similar heart-health benefits as those who exercise throughout the week

Wednesday, 19 July 2023 17:42

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently reported that around one in six couples globally are affected by infertility. For many years people tended to blame women for a couple’s infertility –...

AVAILABLE LANGUAGES

English Afrikaans Arabic Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Danish Dutch Filipino Finnish French German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Malay Norwegian Persian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Spanish Swahili Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Urdu Vietnamese

Friday, 21 May 2021 10:09

The humble potato has been given a bad rap. What was once a cheap staple of many countries’ diets has instead been branded in recent years an “unhealthy” food best avoided.

Wednesday, 12 May 2021 08:30

In 2019, Burger King Sweden released a plant-based burger, the Rebel Whopper, and the reaction was underwhelming. So, the company challenged its customers to taste the difference.

Thursday, 13 May 2021 08:34

Iron deficiency is a common nutritional disorder worldwide, and pre-menopausal women are most at risk of being diagnosed with it.

Wednesday, 26 July 2023 12:55

With the rising cost of living, gyms memberships and fitness classes are becoming increasingly unaffordable. But the good news is you can make just as much progress at home.

Monday, 07 June 2021 08:07

Injury to the adult brain is all too common. A brain injury will often show up on brain scans as a well-defined area of damage. But often the changes to the brain extend far beyond the visible...

Wednesday, 26 May 2021 08:54

The term “exercise is medicine” is rightfully well publicised. It’s one of the best ways to stay healthy, yet medicine doesn’t work if you aren’t prepared to take it.

New Attitudes - New Possibilities

InnerSelf.comClimateImpactNews.com | InnerPower.net
MightyNatural.com | WholisticPolitics.com | InnerSelf Market
Copyright ©1985 - 2021 InnerSelf Publications. All Rights Reserved.