Monday 18th January 2021 GatewayC have produced a list of cancer charity support lines for people who may be worried about their cancer diagnosis, or are concerned about how COVID-19 might affect their cancer treatment. Please download this PDF resource or find the...
Breathlessness and end of life care
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Thursday 11th June 2020
Breathlessness is one of the common symptoms that people experience at the end of their lives. However, determining whether a patient is entering the last few days of their life requires the GP to consider a range of factors. Before making this decision it is important to consider how the patient has presented previously, if possible based on contact over a period of time.
GatewayC’s ‘Lung Cancer – End of Life Care’ course includes a full interview with Dr David Waterman, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, outlining the last stages of life.
Key points from this interview include:
- How to decide if a patient is entering the last days of life
- When to consider anticipatory drugs
- Common end of life symptoms
- How to control symptoms
- How to manage end of life care
- Access GatewayC’s ‘Improving the Quality of Your Referral Course’ here
- Read this article from Amelung et al (2019) discussing the influence of patient-doctor conversations on patient behaviour
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GPs must first: recognise that the patient is entering end of life and exclude treatable reversible causes. Anticipatory medication can be considered once GPs have assessed the five priorities of care.
Common symptoms at the end of life include:
- Pain
- Breathlessness
- Sickness
- Agitation
- Upper airways secretions
Find out more:

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