Abstract

Cancer is a word which produces a certain amount of fear, especially in the hearts of those diagnosed with it. Though the advances in medical science have rendered certain types of cancer curable, majority of the malignancies still have a poor long term prognosis (Barchielli 1985, 1987; MLG Janssen-Heijnen et al., 2007). This can be especially in India due to late diagnosis, wrong treatment, inadequate treatment, lack of facilities, non-compliance and poverty and so on. This in the end leads to a confused, miserable patient who has neither any idea of what is happening to him nor what will happen to him (Twycross and Lichter, 1999). Below are 3 case histories which reflect the plight of the cancer patients who come to us seeking help for pain and distress.

Key words: Cancer, prognosis, chemotherapy.