The Managing Advanced Cancer Pain Together (MACPT) conversation tool: an evaluation of use in clinical practice.

To investigate use of the 'Managing Advanced Cancer Pain Together' conversation tool between individuals with advanced cancer and healthcare professionals (HCPs) during routine consultations. Twenty-one patients and six HCPs completed questionnaires before and after use of the tool (at their routine consultation 1 and consecutive consultation 2, respectively). Patients and HCPs were satisfied with communication during both consultations.

Malignant pleural effusion in the palliative care setting.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a distressing condition for the patient, causing many symptoms such as shortness of breath, dry cough, an uncomfortable feeling of heaviness in the chest, and pleuritic pain. MPE reduces quality of life and functional status. It indicates that the disease is now advanced and life expectancy is generally short, with a median prognosis of 3-12 months depending on the stage of the disease and the underlying malignancy.