Symptom control in advanced cancer: twenty principles.

In Palliative Medicine, symptom management is a clinical priority and one of the key skill sets of the palliative specialist. Symptom control principles have been derived from clinical practice in cancer pain management. They can also be applied to other cancer symptoms, and systematic application will help improve quality of life (QOL). They require a diagnosis of the underlying etiology, individualization of symptom therapy, a systematic approach to management, and therapeutic clarity and simplicity. There are 20 principles that have been identified as helpful to guide the clinical practice of symptom control in advanced cancer.