The lung cancer nurse role in the management of paraneoplastic syndromes in lung cancer

Abstract

Paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS) associated with lung cancer are well recognised, are often complex to diagnose, and have minimal evidence to promote nursing and medical management. This paper aims to help guide lung cancer nurses to identify the most common and rarer PNS together with basic clinical management advice to help develop nursing assessments and interventions. The issues regarding the pathway of care at diagnosis together with palliative and supportive care requirements will be addressed and will aim to promote best practice in patients diagnosed with PNS and lung cancer.

Keywords: Paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS); lung cancer nurse.

Figure 1

Paraneoplastic syndromes. There are a wide variety of paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS) that are associated with lung cancer with the most common ones being the systemic syndromes of fatigue and cachexia, paraneoplastic endocrine syndrome, paraneoplastic neurological syndrome and haematological syndromes.