Palliative care in the home: a case study of secondary histiocytic sarcoma in a 3-year-old child

• Main Authors: Zuzana Karabová, Lubica Ilievová
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Sarajevo 2013-12-01
• Series: Journal of Health Sciences
• Subjects: paediatric; palliative; secondary cancer; histiocytic sarcoma; home care; hospice
• Online Access: https://www.jhsci.ba/ojs/index.php/jhsci/article/view/104

This article describes the medical, psychological, and social challenges encountered during home-based, family-centred palliative care of a 3-year-old female with secondary histiocytic sarcoma diagnosed during treatment for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Histiocytic sarcoma is an exceedingly rare cancer in adults, but even less frequent and highly aggressive when presenting as a secondary cancer in children. Comprehensive, multidisciplinary paediatric hospice care services are not widely available across Slovakia,thus limiting the number of patients and families offered such highly specialized end-of-life care. This case study illustrates the primary benefits for the child and family of such a program as well as the impact on the medical and nursing professionals working in the fi eld of paediatric haematology-oncology.