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Beyond striae cutis: A case report on how physical skin complaints unveiled end-of-life total experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2020

Miguel Julião*
Affiliation:
Equipa Comunitária de Suporte em Cuidados Paliativos de Sintra, Sintra, Portugal
Paula Calçada
Affiliation:
Equipa Comunitária de Suporte em Cuidados Paliativos de Sintra, Sintra, Portugal
Vasco Coelho Macias
Affiliation:
Dermatology Centre, Hospital dos Lusíadas, Lisboa, Portugal
Pedro Mendes-Bastos
Affiliation:
Dermatology Centre, Hospital CUF Descobertas, Lisboa, Portugal
*
Author for correspondence: Miguel Julião, Equipa Comunitária de Suporte em Cuidados Paliativos de Sintra, 2635-364 Rio de Mouro, Sintra, Portugal. E-mail: migueljuliao@gmail.com

Abstract

Background

End-of-life is a unique and multidimensional experience, and physical complaints can reveal other areas of distress.

Method

A case report of a woman with terminal cancer with painful and deforming skin striae cared by a multidisciplinary team.

Results

After initially treating her physical pain, other end-of-life psychosocial, spiritual, and existential aspects could be addressed.

Significance of results

Physical distress can unveil other essential areas of end-of-life experience when multidisciplinary teams caring for the terminally ill patients use holistic approaches.

Type
Case Report
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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