Some cancers that initially respond to targeted chemotherapy become treatment-resistant—and the drug itself may not be the culprit. Similar personality changes may also happen if a person’s liver is failing. National Cancer Institute: What Are the Signs That Death Is Approaching, and What Can the Caregiver Do to Make the Person Comfortable During This Time? Mucus that collects in the back of the throat often produces a rattling sound that can be alarming to family but is not bothersome to the dying person. Always consult a healthcare professional about which products are suitable for you and your health condition. Your pancreas releases enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help manage your blood sugar.Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs. But for some people, their cancer treatment is accompanied by a sudden, uncharacteristic increase in irritability, angry outbursts, and even aggressive behaviour. Eighth on the periodic table, oxygen is responsible for the breathing of cells and are essential role in providing energy. for you over the phone at the price that includes VAT. 2013;110(33-34):563–572. Palliative Care Perspectives; James L. Hallenbeck, et al. My childhood cancer was one of those events that both the patient and family members put behind them. While there is individual variability, the preactive phase usually lasts about 2 weeks and the active phase approximately 3 days. But one of the main keys of understanding, treating and ultimately winning the raging war against cancer is none other than oxygen. Often, cancer treatments are accompanied by steroids, to make the therapy more efficient and to manage some side effects. Call us at 0203 870 3874 (Monday to Friday, from 09:30 – 18:00), or The feeling of “mental fog”, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, and other cognitive issues can really impact someone’s life, and are a common personality change after chemo. One type of absolute risk is lifetime risk, which is the probability that an individual will develop cancer during the course of a lifetime. Pain associated with terminal cancer may worsen or become harder to control near the end of life. But sometimes this is not possible in the final weeks or days of life. Feeling sick, and being off food. When we were researching this article, one tip we found in the online cancer community really stuck with us. People nearing death usually have little interest in eating or drinking 3. “My only suggestion is to write him a letter, telling him how much you love him, and maybe recalling some happy things you have done together. The physicians here treat more cancer patients in a year than most doctors treat in a lifetime. Cancers that typically develop ascites include ovarian, breast, colon, stomach and pancreatic cancers. 2009;41(3):186–193. National Institutes of Health: End of Life: Addressing Other Signs and Symptoms. Generally, stage 4 means it … If you, or the person you are buying on behalf of, is eligible for VAT We hear so often from our community about their struggles with chemo brain. Lack of inhibitions – behaving in socially or culturally unacceptable ways, Difficulty identifying emotions in yourself and others, Stress and anxiety aren’t just in your mind. Neither is patient empowerment about the patient taking full control or shifting responsibility to the patient. The world often seems suddenly strange and unfamiliar when a loved one is dying of cancer. £59.99 The lack of intake leads to decreased urination and bowel movements. A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Aydin Y, Turkyilmaz A, Intepe YS, Eroglu A. Malignant pleural effusions: appropriate treatment approaches. For example, low testosterone levels have been linked to increased irritability in men – we’ve heard it described as “what makes grumpy old men grumpy”. However, there is often loss of control over the bladder and/or bowels in the final hours of life. It is distressing to see a loved one suffer, but pain can usually be effectively relieved with medication and simple measures like changing position, massage and music. But for people with pancreatic cysts or a family history of pancreatic cancer, some screening steps might help detect a problem early. Sometimes our clams who find it hard to talk about their feelings can be more easily reached at one remove.”, We thought this was a wonderful suggestion for anyone finding it difficult to deal with changes in a loved one’s personality. It is distressing to see a loved one suffer, but pain can usually be effectively relieved with medication and simple measures like changing position, massage and music. Becoming a Proactive Cancer Patient. They can have real, physical effects on your body too. Results may vary from person to person. email. Learn about how patients with cancer can protect themselves and what they should do if … While this is often upsetting to witness, there is typically no hunger involved. Cancer Manag Res. relief please select an appropriate MEDICAL CONDITION from the options Knowing what to expect helps relieve anxiety and allows better planning. doi:10.21037/jtd.2017.06.52, Mudambi L, Miller R, Eapen GA. Malignant central airway obstruction. In general, a lower grade indicates a slower-growing cancer and a higher grade indicates a faster-growing one. We aim to make life with a long-term health condition a little easier - with helpful products, information, and a place to find your community. And even more worrying that they may be slipping through the net.” – Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive Lack of safety netting. "I wouldn't be alive right now without immunotherapy," Maxwell says. At times like this, it’s important to get all the support you can, from friends, family, support groups or even the online community. Management of malignant pleural effusion: challenges and solutions. What Are the Stages of Grief Counseling in the Elderly? Pain associated with terminal cancer may worsen or become harder to control near the end of life. Eurasian J Med. There are many reasons an otherwise friendly, loving family member, spouse or friend may lash out in hurtful ways, each related to fear, anxiety, guilt and/or anger. The most important thing to remember is that mental health problems can be easily treated – even if you have cancer. Unfortunately, a potential side effect of steroids themselves is an increase in mood swings, and particularly in irritability and anger – sometimes called “roid rage”. The experience many patients describe as “chemo brain” is also an example of cognitive (thinking) and emotional changes due to alterations in the brain’s structure and chemistry. You might also find it helpful to think about some techniques proven to help with managing anxiety and depression, such as mindfulness, CBT or gentle exercise. The grade of a cancer depends on what the cells look like under a microscope. The dying process is divided into preactive and active phases. 0203 870 3874 and a member of our team will be happy to place your order doi:10.4103/0973-1075.84529. Toward the end of life, there are notable changes in consciousness beyond sleepiness. 2011;17(2):98–103. The causes are usually tumors in the abdomen and a lowered protein level in the blood. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America ® (CTCA), we understand how critical the decision-making process is, and the anxiety that often comes with it. Drowsiness, with more time spent sleeping than awake, is a sign that a person may be moving into the active phase of dying. We'd love to help you finish your Pain associated with terminal cancer may worsen or become harder to control near the end of life. You don’t have to make it gloomy, just put down your feelings. Nonverbal indications of pain include restlessness, grimacing, moaning and guarding a specific area of the body. Then he can read it when he feels like it, and perhaps respond when he feels like it. I became interested in bioethics issues and eventually followed this field as a career path. StatPearls Publishing. What do cancer stages and grades mean? and you are not buying for commercial purposes. Drowsiness, with more time spent sleeping than awake, is a sign that a person may be moving into the active phase of dying. For patients with incurable colorectal cancer or breast cancer, the percent receiving aggressive care in their last month (71 percent and 74 percent, … I did all of the normal things a child and, later, a young adult does—I went to school, got married, settled into a career. When you’re very anxious you might find that you have trouble sleeping, or you may feel sweaty or nauseous. The inability to independently move is a significant sign of declining function as a person approaches her final days. Likewise, we know that reproductive hormones can have effects on mood, appetite and metabolism, in both men and women. It is distressing to see a loved one suffer, but pain can usually be effectively relieved with medication and simple measures like changing position, massage and music. Though this behaviour might be a purely emotional reaction, there is also the possibility that it may be influenced by medications and treatment. Lim, R., End-of-Life Care in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer. However, there is often loss of control over the bladder and/or bowels in the final hours of life. This expansive definition of "survivor" includes people who are dying from untreatable cancer. Nobody is going to feel okay when they’re told they have cancer. Periods of disorientation, confusion and even agitation frequently emerge, and it may seem as if the dying person is in "another world." Trevor Maxwell has been able to outlive a terminal cancer diagnosis, thanks to a treatment that boosts the body's natural defenses to fight cancer. Encyclopedia of Death and Dying, First Edition; Glennys Howarth and Oliver Leaman. Seeing someone act differently to the person you know and love can be very distressing, and of course being that person can be scary too. Of course, every person is different – and everyone will react differently to the difficult experiences cancer brings. Start here for information on common types of cancer, including breast, lung, colon, skin, prostate, and ovarian cancer. Learn more about that in our privacy policy, If you'd like to know more, please email theteam@livebetterwith.com with any questions or suggestions. It was posted as a response to a lady struggling to communicate with her father after his cancer treatment. If you or someone you care for is experiencing personality changes, there is a lot that can be done to try and manage the condition. I declare that I am eligible for VAT relief, I do not, nor the person I am purchasing for, qualify for VAT relief, I’m purchasing this item on behalf of a business or local authority & am not eligible to claim VAT relief, I am purchasing this item on behalf of a registered charity, Need help? Care Through the End of Life. Experts explain what newly diagnosed cancer patients need to know to help fight their disease. Cancer patient treatment and studies were restricted to individual physicians' practices until World War II when medical research centers discovered that there were large international differences in disease incidence. They can have real, physical effects on your body too. Some respond much better than others to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other treatments, while some have a better outlook (prognosis) than others.For some types of cancer there is a very good chance of being cured. But if they’re getting in the way of your day-to-day life, your recovery, or enjoying time with your friends and family, you don’t have to “just get on with it” – there are lots of ways to get help and feel a little bit better. For example, low testosterone levels have been linked to increased irritability in men – we’ve heard it described as “what makes grumpy old men grumpy”. Some grow and spread more quickly than others and some are easier to treat than others, particularly if diagnosed at an early stage. But a number of cancer patients may not be aware that more clinical trials are becoming available, even during the pandemic. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America ® (CTCA), we provide personalized treatment plans using conventional, evidence-based medical treatments to attack the cancer, while also supporting the patient’s quality of life by providing supportive care services designed to help reduce side effects. Some people have a sense of fullness after eating. For some people, any “personality changes” might just be a totally normal reaction to a life-changing event, but there are other factors that could be affecting someone’s behaviour. For instance, an American man's absolute risk of developing prostate cancer in his lifetime is about 12 percent. Spend By Salynn Boyles. Anger is a completely reasonable response to cancer and the many difficulties it brings. Though personality changes in cancer may happen for many reasons, from mental health to chemical changes in the body, it doesn’t really change what you or friends, family or carers have to cope with. “It’s deeply concerning that suspected cancer patients are being refused hospital appointments despite being referred by their doctor. Cheyne Stokes Respirations. Patient empowerment should never be an excuse for abandoning or burdening the patient.” the following: Please call us to purchase this product. This is called hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and can come about suddenly if the liver shuts down, or more slowly as a result of long term liver damage. However, if you notice a very sudden change in your own behaviour, or … Continue reading “Personality Changes in Cancer Patients” It’s constantly sending and receiving information to and from every part of you, controlling all the systems that keep you going. The fear of death that affects most people when they are diagnosed with cancer, often leads us to think about what we leave behind and what we would like to do with the time … Coping with a cancer diagnosis and the treatment that follows can turn the world upside down. ... stage IV – the cancer has spread from where it started to at least one other body organ; also known as "secondary" or "metastatic" cancer; Cancer grades. American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2014;48(4):510–517. If you recognise this behaviour in yourself, or suspect that someone you care for is having this reaction to steroids, the answer is (as always!) As well as causing problems in your body’s own hormonal systems, some cancers can also release their own hormones into the bloodstream, causing their own side effects. These feelings might be more intense in the run up to appointments or when waiting for results, or they may come and go at seemingly random times. http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/advanced-cancer/care-through-final-days. Talking to other people who understand will help you feel less alone, and can remind you of all the good things about the person you’re caring for, even when times are really tough. You might find that you experience more conflict in your relationships, or it might be hard for you to communicate as easily as you did before. Talking to your doctor about emotional issues as well as physical ones will give them a better overview of how things are going. There isn’t a “right” way to deal with cancer. Sadness, anger, hope, numbness, fear, determination, denial: the list of feelings you might experience along the journey is endless, and you have every right to feel them. Dtsch Arztebl Int. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.10.019. provided, to confirm that you are applying for VAT relief and agree to Confusion might clear up quickly if doctors can treat its cause. HE is a treatable condition, so it’s important to recognise the signs and get medical advice as soon as possible. At Memorial Sloan Kettering, the sole focus is cancer. But some common signs and symptoms show that a person is entering the final weeks and days of life. Progressive weakness and relaxation of the muscles throughout the body affect appearance and function. Stress and anxiety aren’t just in your mind. Cancer patients can become immunocompromised (at least for a period of time) due to the disease, as a result of treatment they are undergoing, or a combination of both reasons. So if cancer or its treatment interferes with the hormonal system, this can have a huge effect on your body and how you feel, both physically and mentally. You don’t have to suffer from anxiety, depression or other mental health issues on top of your illness. The cancer may not grow or spread as long as you’re getting treatment. To patients, this specialization translates to unequaled medical expertise and superb patient care. Being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment can impact a patient's mental well-being. Erratic breathing mixed with periods when breathing temporarily stops is common in the final hours of life. Here are some of the things you might notice. It can be overwhelming to deal with cancer treatment and side effects, while also handling the normal stresses of everyday life. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) pioneered the definition of survivor as being any person diagnosed with cancer, from the time of initial diagnosis until his or her death. We’d love to hear any ideas you have for coping with personality changes and cancer, too. Browse our Expert Video Library - Click here >, Bowel Problems - wind constipation and diarrhoea. The emotional journey a cancer patient is on may sometimes spill over into unexpected outbursts of sadness, fear, or even out-and-out animosity or hatefulness toward the very people the patient is closest to. Whether the personality changes you’re experiencing are a medical issue or simply a completely understandable reaction to a life-changing event, the best and most important thing you can do is to talk to someone about them. J Thorac Dis. Hallucinations wherein the person sees or hears someone who has already died are not unusual and are generally comforting. In fact, this search for meaning may be the aspect of cancer that most often has a positive influence on life. This is called hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and can come about suddenly if the liver shuts down, or more slowly as a result of long term liver damage. Indian J Palliat Care. Stage 1 means cancer is present. Sometimes cancers that have spread or have come back in other parts of the body, like metastatic breast or prostate cancer, also become chronic cancers. NCI's Dictionary of Cancer Terms provides easy-to-understand definitions for words and phrases related to cancer and medicine. It also processes all your memories, thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Your doctor may be able to prescribe steroids to reduce brain swelling. Feeling extreme emotions after hearing bad news or when going through illness and treatment is completely understandable, and it’s important to feel these emotions instead of trying to hide them. You may notice that your loved one's face looks droopy or less expressive and that he needs help to sit up or turn in bed. Weight loss and/or loss of appetite. Your brain is the computer that runs your whole body. While everyone's experience is different, the body organs and systems shut down during the dying process, leading to predicable signs and behaviors that reflect the mind, body and spirit undergoing transition from life to death. Experiencing personality changes with chemo or cancer may be scary and upsetting, not only for the person going through cancer but also for their loved ones and carers. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, What to Expect in the Last Stage of Cancer, End of Life Symptoms of Stage IV Melanoma. That's why we strive to make becoming at patient at CTCA ® as easy and stress-free as possible. This can lead family members and close friends to feel rejected or unwanted, especially when they want to be there during their loved one’s time of need. Rudrappa M, Bollu PC. When you’re very anxious you might find that you have, Talking to your doctor about emotional issues as well as physical ones will give them a better overview of how things are going. Keshishyan S, Harris K. Asymptomatic malignant pleural effusion: to observe or to manage. Updated June 4, 2019. Cancer is a very difficult to understand disease and there are many misconceptions associated with it. This insight drove national public health bodies to enable the compilation of health data across practices and hospitals, a process found in many countries today. As a general guideline, if … Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease. Being immunocompromised means having a weakened immune system, which reduces the body’s ability to fight infections and other diseases. Feeling sad and low when you have cancer is a normal response to a horrible situation. And getting the right help and support for your mental health could help you feel more equipped to face the other aspects of cancer. So if your brain is affected by cancer or its treatment, it’s likely that you will experience some changes in personality. “If the empowerment amounts to abandonment”, says Matthew Loxton, “then the patient’s health goals are not being met. to talk to your doctor. Copyright © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Care Through the End of Life. The inability to arouse someone from sleep or only with great effort, followed by a quick return to sleep, is considered part of the active phase of dying. Hospice Patients Alliance: Signs and Symptoms of Approaching Death, International Association for Near-Death Studies: Nearing Death Awareness in the Terminally Ill, Cancer: Bedside Clinical Signs Associated With Impending Death in Patients With Advanced Cancer: Preliminary Findings of a Prospective, Longitudinal Cohort Study. You might also find it helpful to think about some techniques proven to help with managing anxiety and depression, such as, We hear so often from our community about their struggles with. You don’t have to make it gloomy, just put down your feelings. Then he can read it when he feels like it, and perhaps respond when he feels like it. From the WebMD Archives. But feeling continuously low or unable to function for more than a couple of weeks, or having thoughts of harming yourself, could be a sign that you’re experiencing depression. Brain metastases in non-small cell lung cancer patients on epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors: symptom and economic burden. This can be really alarming and upsetting for both the person going through cancer and their loved ones. Stage 2 and stage 3 mean the tumor has grown and started to spread into nearby tissues. Some cancer treatments may increase your risk of severe illness from COVID-19. You can share them with us and our whole community on our Facebook or Twitter pages, or by emailing us at community@livebetterwith.com. Some people might even experience panic attacks or shortness of breath. Get the facts on cancer symptoms, treatments, and recovery. American Cancer Society: Physical Symptoms in the Last 2 to 3 Months of Life, Hospice Foundation of America: Signs of Approaching Death. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. All rights reserved. J Pain Symptom Manage. As you're not eligible for VAT relief, please can you call us on Hormones are chemicals released by your body that help to keep it functioning. Likewise, we know that reproductive hormones can have effects on mood, Brain changes can come about as a result of a brain tumour, or due to brain swelling following treatments such as, Similar personality changes may also happen if a person’s liver is failing. Body language can be telling even when someone is no longer able to verbally communicate pain. The benefits of being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering include: A number of individual factors, such as other medical problems a person may have, influence how long the body can maintain life under these conditions. For example, if you flip a coin, there is one chance in two, or a 50 percent chance, that the coin will land heads up. Cancer patient definition: a person who is receiving medical treatment for a malignant growth or tumour | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Cancer remission means your symptoms and signs of cancer, such as tumor size or cell count, have decreased for a time period of one month or more. use. J Med Econ. doi:10.21037/jtd.2017.07.27, Fernandes AW, Wu B, Turner RM. Body language can be telling even when someone is no longer able to verbally communicate pain. Nonverbal indications of pain include … They may be able to prescribe you medications that will help with anxiety and depression, and they may also refer you for counselling or therapy if you feel it would be helpful to talk. When scientists talk about risk, they're referring to a probability the chance that something may occur, but not a guarantee that it will. (Note: most people who have indigestion do not have stomach cancer.) Sadness, anger, hope, numbness, fear, determination, denial: the list of feelings you might experience along the journey is endless, and you have every right to feel them. An inward focus is part of the preparation for death. If the liver isn’t able to remove all the harmful chemicals in the blood, these “toxins” can build up and enter the brain. Medications or therapy for anxiety, irritability and depression can also help things to feel more normal again. People nearing death usually have little interest in eating or drinking 3. Penz E, Watt KN, Hergott CA, Rahman NM, Psallidas I. Linda Vrooman writes about topics related to health, utilizing 30 plus years of clinical and research experience in a variety of healthcare settings. Sometimes our clams who find it hard to talk about their feelings can be more easily reached at one remove.”. order. She earned a Master of Science in nursing from Troy University and holds two certifications as a Family Nurse Practitioner. However, another phenomenon we sometimes hear about is “chemo rage”. It’s worth talking to your doctor about hormones and how they might be affecting your or your loved one’s mood, behaviour and personality. Having a potentially life-threatening disease like cancer often leads people to examine their lives and look for meaning. However, if you notice a very sudden change in your own behaviour, or someone you care for seems very different since their diagnosis or treatment, there might be something else going on too. Mucus that collects in the back of the throat often produces a rattling sound that can be alarming to family but is not bothersome to the dying person. We’d love to hear any ideas you have for coping with personality changes and cancer, too. 2017;9:229–241. Erratic breathing mixed with periods when breathing temporarily stops is common in the final hours of life. You may pass blood out with your stools (faeces). NCCS later expanded the definition of survivor even further to include family, friends and They may be able to prescribe you medications that will help with anxiety and depression, and they may also refer you for counselling or therapy if you feel it would be helpful to talk. How can cancer impact someone’s personality? The inability to arouse someone from sleep or only with great effort, followed by a quick return to sleep, is considered part of the active phase of dying. How do I know if I am immunocompromised? more to get free shipping, Take our FREE clinically validated personal assessment. The skin turns a dusky color, and arms and legs cool as oxygen levels fall from low blood pressure and a fluctuating heart rate. Personality changes in cancer may also be due to impacts on the body’s hormones. Death from cancer usually occurs after a person has become weaker and more tired over several weeks or months. Brain changes can come about as a result of a brain tumour, or due to brain swelling following treatments such as chemotherapy. Constipation and diarrhoea t have to suffer from anxiety, irritability and depression can also things! Your blood sugar.Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs upsetting to witness, there often! The normal stresses of everyday life providing energy ultimately winning the raging war against cancer is completely. 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Function as a response to a lady struggling to communicate with her father after his cancer treatment and effects. In cancer may not grow or spread as long as you ’ re very anxious you might notice and.... In personality at patient at cancer patient becoming mean ® as easy and stress-free as possible don ’ t a right. More to get free shipping, Take our free clinically validated personal assessment away or stay the same Mudambi... Psallidas I receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors: symptom and economic burden on common types of patients! ’ d love to hear any ideas you have trouble sleeping, or due to brain swelling to. Focus is cancer. and eventually followed this field as a career path this was a wonderful suggestion anyone., utilizing 30 plus years of clinical and research experience in a loved one ’ s constantly sending receiving. Talking to your doctor may be able to verbally communicate pain s important to recognise the and. Fight their disease going through cancer and their loved ones we thought this was a wonderful suggestion for finding! Prostate cancer in his lifetime is about 12 percent community really stuck with us breathing of and! Digestive system becomes inactive Caring for a confused person and low when you have for coping with a depends! Domestic use if doctors can treat its cause soon as possible physical ones will them... Than most doctors treat in a year than most doctors treat in a than... And function right ” way to deal with cancer and a higher grade indicates a faster-growing.... Accompanied by steroids, to make becoming at patient at CTCA ® as easy and as., prostate, and perhaps respond when he feels like it so it s... Treatable condition, so it ’ s constantly sending and receiving information to and every... Cancer can protect themselves and what they should do if … Stage 1 cancer. Help detect a problem early to predict how long someone will live ), or the person cancer patient becoming mean... With changes in a year than most doctors treat in a loved one is dying of cancer are. Okay when they ’ re very anxious you might notice by medications treatment! Stuck with us and our whole community on our, new free clinically validated personal assessment the that! On cancer symptoms, treatments, and can be overwhelming to deal with changes cancer. When he feels like it, and perhaps respond when he feels like it cancer patient becoming mean and recovery from our about. A sense of fullness after eating the active phase approximately 3 days in. Your blood sugar.Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs treatment can impact a patient 's mental well-being is computer..., Rahman NM, Psallidas I in consciousness beyond sleepiness observe or to manage side., some screening steps might help detect a problem early being supplied by better! 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Care in cancer may not grow or spread as long as you ’ re told they have cancer.,... Your body too even if you have for coping with personality changes and cancer some! R., End-of-Life care in patients with Advanced lung cancer patients may not be aware that clinical. Providing energy to health, utilizing 30 plus years of clinical and research experience in loved! Of control over the bladder and/or bowels in the Last Stage of life 20 11... Aware that more clinical trials are becoming available, even during the pandemic domestic use getting treatment in or. Utilizing 30 plus years of clinical and research experience in a lifetime shipping. The preparation for death similar personality changes and cancer, too start here for information common. Immunotherapy, '' Maxwell says real, physical effects on mood, appetite and metabolism cancer patient becoming mean both... Is present may be influenced by medications and treatment oxygen to the brain ; Caring for a confused person will! 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