These initials refer to the doctor's credentials â they indicate the type of medical school the doctor attended and the licensing exam they took to become a doctor. MD stands for Doctor of Medicine, and is the most common type of degree earned by doctors who practice medicine in the United States.
Anxiety is often manifested at various times during cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, or recurrence. For patients undergoing cancer treatment, anxiety can also heighten the expectancy of pain,[10-12] other symptoms of distress, and sleep disturbances and can be a major factor in anticipatory nausea and vomiting.
Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) addresses nine common symptoms including pain, nausea and anxiety. This tool is designed to assist in the assessment of: pain, tiredness, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, appetite, well being, and shortness of breath. The severity at the time of assessment of each symptom is rated from 0 to 10 on a numerical scale; with 0 meaning that the symptom is absent and 10 that it is the worst possible severity. The ESAS is completed every time a patient visits the cancer centre and scores provide a clinical profile of symptom severity over time.