Fatigue is reported by advanced cancer patients to be their most prevalent and distressing symptom. Despite this, few interventions have been developed and tested to manage this debilitating symptom. This paper describes a pilot study undertaken to test the effects of a 28-day exercise intervention on levels of fatigue in advanced cancer patients. All participants were able to increase their activity levels with no increase in reported fatigue. Furthermore, a trend was noted in all patients toward increased quality of life scores and decreased anxiety scores, All participants described a sense of satisfaction in attaining increased activity levels. These preliminary pilot results suggest that patients who initially report the highest levels of fatigue may achieve the largest decrease in fatigue scores. These findings provide support for the suitability of this intervention for the palliative care population and justify the importance of further hypothesis testing.

Technological advances have been helpful in alleviating the suffering of many dying patients. For some, however, use of technology appears to augment distress. This article presents a discussion of issues associated with use of technology in palliative care nursing: pain management approaches, use of invasive procedures, decision-making concerns, the ways in which technology may serve as replacement for other types of care, and cost considerations.

The use of opioids presents practitioners with many challenges, such as the variation in responses and side effects seen with traditional methods of administration. This has prompted an increase in the consideration of the intrathecal route for the management of patients with refractory cancer pain. Although this has increased the therapeutic options available to patients, it has also led to more complicated pain management strategies. In Perth, Western Australia, it was identified that clinical variations, especially in the programming of the pump maintenance of the filters and associated dressings, occurred between service providers, causing confusion and anxiety for patients, families and practitioners. This article discusses a review of nursing management of patients receiving intrathecal analgesia and the collaboration of all services in the development of evidence-based policy.