Commentary

Searching for Simplicity in the Complexity of Symptom Clusters

Lanell M. Bellury

Jane C. Clark

Occam’s razor, symptom cluster, genetics, genomics
ONF 2018, 45(3), 284-286. DOI: 10.1188/18.ONF.284-286

Occam’s razor proposes that the simplest solution is preferable; however, in the science of cancer and cancer symptoms, simple solutions have been elusive. Understanding individual symptoms continues to confound the science community, and symptom cluster science appears to be an incredibly complex schema of individual symptoms co-occurring and interacting with one another. The simplest explanation for symptom clusters would be a common underlying mechanism at the human genome level. Such a finding could greatly simplify and perhaps revolutionize symptom management.

Members Only
Not a current ONS member or journal subscriber?

Purchase This Article

Receive a PDF to download and print.