Symptoms and problems in the end-of-life phase of high-grade glioma patients

Despite multimodal treatment, it is not possible to cure high-grade glioma (HGG) patients. Therefore, the aim of treatment is not only to prolong life, but also to prevent deterioration of health-related quality of life as much as possible. When the patient's condition declines and no further tumor treatment seems realistic, patients in the Netherlands are often referred to a primary care physician for end-of-life care. This end-of-life phase has not been studied adequately yet. The purpose of this study was to explore specific problems and needs experienced in the end-of-life phase of patients with HGG. We retrospectively examined the files of 55 patients who received treatment in our outpatient clinic and died between January 2005 and August 2008. The clinical nurse specialist in neuro-oncology maintained contact on a regular basis with (relatives of) HGG patients once tumor treatment for recurrence was no longer given. She systematically asked for signs and symptoms. The majority of the patients experienced loss of consciousness and difficulty with swallowing, often arising in the week before death. Seizures occurred in nearly half of the patients in the end-of-life phase and more specifically in one-third of the patients in the week before dying. Other common symptoms reported in the end-of-life phase are progressive neurological deficits, incontinence, progressive cognitive deficits, and headache. Our study demonstrates that HGG patients, unlike the general cancer population, have specific symptoms in the end-of-life phase. Further research is needed in order to develop specific palliative care guidelines for these patients