This study provides the information on symptom experiences
and the impact of symptom clusters on daily life of HCC
patients receiving TACE. Before TACE, the prevalence and
severity of symptoms were both at lower levels, but they
rose quickly after TACE, especially physical symptoms
such as pain, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and drowsiness.
HCC patients often require repeated TACE for residual
viable tumors or local recurrence; some patients eventually
refuse TACE because they cannot tolerate the repeated
painful symptoms caused by TACE. We realize that if not
well managed, these symptoms can cause interruptions or
cessations of cancer treatment.