Searching for Simplicity in the Complexity of Symptom Clusters

Abstract

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.