Symptoms in children with advanced cancer: Child and nurse reports

Background: Systematic studies on the specific symptom experience in children with advanced cancer are limited. Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the common symptoms and to explore commonly occurring symptoms over time. Methods: A prospective and longitudinal study design was used. Data were collected at 10 data points from 60 children over a 5-month period. Children ranged from 6 to 17 years old, spoke English or Spanish, were diagnosed with advanced cancer, and were receiving healthcare in 1 of 4 Southern California hospitals. Nurses' documentations of symptoms were examined. Results: The study sample was composed of children 6 to 12 years old (52%) and 13 to 17 years old (48%); 42% were female, and 58% were male. Fifty-five percent were Latino, and 30% were Caucasian. Pain, nausea, drowsiness, and energy loss were reported by children in more than 50% of the interviews. Children's and nurses' reports of symptoms were similar except children reported significantly more frequency and intensity of pain. Conclusion: Children with advanced cancer were able to report and describe their symptoms. There were few differences by gender, age, and ethnicity. Implications for Practice: It is important that children's symptoms are clearly communicated to nurses, and these study findings may be used to anticipate and manage the symptoms experienced by children with advanced cancer. Copyright © 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.