Health states – NSCLC
Stable with no side effects
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is stable on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You have lost weight and your appetite is reduced. You sometimes experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You have shortness of breath and breathing can be painful. You have a persistent nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself and do jobs around the home. Shopping and daily activities take more effort than usual.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but often have to cut it short because you get tired.
∘ You sometimes feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has affected your sex drive.
∘ You worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Stable with Neutropenia
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is stable on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You have a blood disorder which leaves you at risk of infection. You may experience fatigue, muscle aches and interrupted sleep. You are at risk of it happening again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You have lost weight and your appetite is reduced. You sometimes experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You have shortness of breath and breathing can be painful. You have a persistent nagging cough.
∘ You have difficulty washing and dressing yourself and doing jobs around the home. You are unable to go shopping and do your usual daily activities.
∘ You don't visit family and friends often because of the risk of infection.
∘ You sometimes feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has affected your sex drive.
∘ You worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Stable with Febrile neutropenia
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is stable on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You had a blood disorder which led to your being hospitalised for about 5 days with a fever and severe flu like symptoms. You received treatment because this blood disorder could have caused you to die within a few days of onset. You are at risk of it happening again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You have lost weight and your appetite is reduced. You sometimes experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You have shortness of breath and breathing can be painful. You have a persistent nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself with assistance. You are unable to go shopping and do your usual daily activities.
∘ You are not able to visit family and friends.
∘ You sometimes feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has affected your sex drive.
∘ You worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Stable with Fatigue
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is stable on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You often feel extremely tired and weak all over. Your tiredness is not relieved by rest. Most of the time you are frustrated by being too tired to do the things you used to do easily.
∘ You have lost weight and your appetite is reduced. You sometimes experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You have shortness of breath and breathing can be painful. You have a persistent nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself. You cannot do jobs around the home, go shopping or do other daily activities because you are too tired.
∘ You are not able to visit family and friends because you are too tired.
∘ You sometimes feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has affected your sex drive.
∘ You worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Stable with Nausea and Vomiting
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is stable on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You recently had a bout of sickness that lasted 2–3 days. During those days, you felt very sick (nausea) and were vomiting intermittently. You received treatment for the vomiting and to re-hydrate you. You are at risk of it happening again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You have lost weight and your appetite is reduced. You sometimes experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You have shortness of breath and breathing can be painful. You have a persistent nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself and do jobs around the home. Shopping and daily activities take more effort than usual. You were unable to do these things when you had the sickness.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but often have to cut it short because you get tired. You were unable to visit when you had the sickness.
∘ You sometimes feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has affected your sex drive.
∘ You worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Stable with Diarrhoea
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is stable on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You recently had frequent severe diarrhoea. You were taking treatment for the diarrhoea and to re-hydrate you. You are at risk of it happening again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You have lost more weight and your appetite is reduced. You sometimes experience significant pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You have shortness of breath and breathing can be painful. You have a persistent nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself and do jobs around the home. Shopping and daily activities take more effort than usual. You were unable to do these things when you had the diarrhoea.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but often have to cut it short because you get tired. You were unable to visit when you had the diarrhoea.
∘ You sometimes feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has affected your sex drive.
∘ You worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Stable with Hair loss
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is stable on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You have lost all of your hair including bodily hair.
∘ You have lost weight and your appetite is reduced. You sometimes experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You have shortness of breath and breathing can be painful. You have a persistent nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself and do jobs around the home. Shopping and daily activities take more effort than usual.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but often have to cut it short because you get tired. You feel uncomfortable going out due to your hair loss.
∘ You feel much less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has affected your sex drive.
∘ You worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Stable with Rash
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is stable on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You have a rash which causes redness and peeling of the skin which is sometimes itchy. You are taking medication to treat this rash. You have a higher risk of infection and it may appear again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You have lost weight and your appetite is reduced. You sometimes experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You have shortness of breath and breathing can be painful. You have a persistent nagging cough.
∘ Someone helps you to wash and dress yourself. You can do jobs around the home. Shopping and daily activities take more effort than usual.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but often have to cut it short because you get tired. You felt uncomfortable going out while you had the rash.
∘ You feel much less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has affected your sex drive.
∘ You worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Responding with no side effects
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is responding to treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You are gaining back your weight and your appetite is returning. You occasionally experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You sometimes have shortness of breath. You occasionally have a nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself and do jobs around the home. Shopping and daily activities can sometimes be tiring.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but sometimes have to cut it short because you get tired.
∘ You occasionally feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has somewhat affected your sex drive.
∘ You sometimes worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Responding with Neutropenia
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is responding on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You have a blood disorder which leaves you at risk of infection. You may experience fatigue, muscle aches and interrupted sleep. You are at risk of it happening again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You are gaining back your weight and your appetite is returning. You occasionally experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You sometimes have shortness of breath. You occasionally have a nagging cough.
∘ You have difficulty washing and dressing yourself and doing jobs around the home. You are unable to go shopping and do your usual daily activities.
∘ You don't visit family and friends often because of the risk of infection.
∘ You sometimes feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has somewhat affected your sex drive.
∘ You sometimes worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Responding with Febrile Neutropenia
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is responding to treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You had a blood disorder which led to your being hospitalised for about 5 days with a fever and severe flu like symptoms. You received treatment because this blood disorder could have caused you to die within a few days of onset. You are at risk of it happening again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You are gaining back your weight and your appetite is returning. You occasionally experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You sometimes have shortness of breath. You occasionally have a nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself with assistance. You are unable to go shopping and do your usual daily activities.
∘ You are not able to visit family and friends.
∘ You occasionally feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has somewhat affected your sex drive.
∘ You sometimes worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Responding with Fatigue
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is responding to treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You feel extremely tired and weak all over. Your tiredness is not relieved by rest. Most of the time you are frustrated by being too tired to do the things you used to do easily.
∘ You are gaining back your weight and your appetite is returning. You occasionally experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You sometimes have shortness of breath. You occasionally have a nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself. You cannot do jobs around the home, shopping or other daily activities because you are too tired.
∘ You are not able to visit family and friends because you are too tired.
∘ You occasionally feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has somewhat affected your sex drive.
∘ You sometimes worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Responding with Nausea and Vomiting
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is responding to treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You recently had a bout of sickness that lasted 2–3 days. During those days, you felt very sick (nausea) and were vomiting intermittently. You received treatment for the vomiting and to re-hydrate you. You are at risk of it happening again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You are gaining back your weight and your appetite is returning. You occasionally experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You sometimes have shortness of breath. You occasionally have a nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself and do jobs around the home. Shopping and daily activities take more effort than usual. You were unable to do these things when you had the sickness.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but sometimes have to cut it short because you get tired. You were unable to visit when you had the sickness.
∘ You occasionally feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has somewhat affected your sex drive.
∘ You sometimes worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Responding with Diarrhoea
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is responding to treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You recently had frequent severe diarrhoea. You were taking treatment for the diarrhoea and to re-hydrate you. You are at risk of it happening again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You have lost some weight and your appetite is returning. You lost some weight when you had severe diarrhoea. You occasionally experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You sometimes have shortness of breath. You occasionally have a nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself and do jobs around the home with difficulty. You are unable to go shopping and do your usual daily activities because of the diarrhoea.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but sometimes have to cut it short because you get tired. You were unable to visit when you had the diarrhoea.
∘ You occasionally feel less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has somewhat affected your sex drive.
∘ You sometimes worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Responding with Hair loss
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is responding to treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You have lost all of your hair including bodily hair.
∘ You are gaining back your weight and your appetite is returning. You occasionally experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You sometimes have shortness of breath. You occasionally have a nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself and do jobs around the home. Shopping and daily activities can sometimes be tiring.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but sometimes have to cut it short because you get tired. You feel uncomfortable going out due to your hair loss.
∘ You sometimes feel much less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has somewhat affected your sex drive.
∘ You sometimes worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope.
Responding Rash
∘ You have a life threatening illness which is responding on treatment. You are receiving cycles of treatment which require you to go to the outpatient clinic.
∘ You have a rash which causes redness and peeling of the skin which is sometimes itchy. You are taking medication to treat this rash. You have a higher risk of infection and it may appear again following your next cycle of treatment.
∘ You are gaining back your weight and your appetite is returning. You sometimes experience pain or discomfort in your chest or under your ribs which can be treated with painkillers. You sometimes have shortness of breath. You occasionally have a nagging cough.
∘ You are able to wash and dress yourself and do jobs around the home. Shopping and daily activities can sometimes be tiring.
∘ You are able to visit family and friends but sometimes have to cut it short because you get tired. You felt uncomfortable going out while you had the rash.
∘ You sometimes feel much less physically attractive than you used to. Your illness has somewhat affected your sex drive.
∘ You sometimes worry about dying and how your loved ones will cope
Progressive
∘ You have a life threatening illness and your condition is getting worse.
∘ You have lost your appetite and have experienced significant weight loss. You experience pain and discomfort in your chest or under your ribs. You frequently have shortness of breath and breathing is often painful. You have a persistent nagging cough and sometimes cough up blood. You may experience some difficulty swallowing.
∘ You experience severe fatigue and feel too tired to go out or to see family and friends. It has affected your relationships with them.
∘ You need assistance to wash and dress yourself. You are often unable to do jobs around the house or other daily activities. You are dependent on others to do your shopping and are unable to do your usual daily activities.
∘ You often feel less physically attractive than you used to. You have little or no sexual drive.
∘ You're depressed and dying is always on your mind. You worry about how your loved ones will cope.