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Patients with advanced cancer frequently experience distressful symptoms and receive numerous medications. We describe the symptomatology and medication profile of ambulatory cancer patients receiving exclusively supportive care at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study. We reviewed the charts of consecutive adult cancer patients attending palliative care clinics and who were no longer receiving cancer-directed therapy. From the medical records, we collected information about self-reported symptoms [screened for with the numerical Edmonton symptom assessment system (ESAS) scale; range, 0–10, with 10=worst symptom] and medication profiles. Summary statistics were used to describe the results.

Two hundred fifty five …