The Diagnosis Library
Know the disease.

Lung Cancer (NSCLC/SCLC)

Dyspnea, pleural effusion, brain mets

Colorectal Cancer

Bowel obstruction, ostomy, bleeding

Pancreatic Cancer

Pain crisis, exocrine failure, rapid decline

Liver Cancer / HCC

Ascites management, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding

Breast Cancer (Metastatic)

Bone mets, brain mets, long survivorship

Prostate Cancer (Metastatic)

Bone pain, spinal cord compression, urinary

Ovarian Cancer

Ascites, bowel obstruction, debulking decisions

Gastric / Stomach Cancer

Malnutrition, weight loss, obstruction

Esophageal Cancer

Dysphagia, airway compromise, stent decisions

Glioblastoma (GBM)

Personality change, seizures, steroid taper

Bladder Cancer

Hematuria, urinary diversion, pelvic pain

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Paraneoplastic syndromes, hemorrhage

Cervical Cancer

Often younger patients, fistula, pelvic pain

Leukemia (AML/CLL End-Stage)

Bleeding cascade, infection, transfusion decisions

Lymphoma (NHL/Hodgkin's)

B symptoms, transformation, CAR-T aftermath

Multiple Myeloma

Bone pain, hypercalcemia, renal failure

Mesothelioma

Pleural effusion dominant, asbestos history

Head & Neck Cancer

Airway, trach, speech/swallow center stage

Melanoma (Metastatic)

Brain/liver mets, immunotherapy decisions

Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct)

Biliary obstruction, ERCP, jaundice management

Sarcoma (Bone & Soft Tissue)

Deep/severe localized pain, pathological fractures, amputation

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Extremely rapid progression, airway obstruction, palliative trach/radiation

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

ICD deactivation, fluid, dyspnea

End-Stage Cardiomyopathy

LVAD decisions, transplant candidacy loss

Coronary Artery Disease (End-Stage)

Refractory angina, no-intervention decision

Aortic Stenosis (Severe, Non-surgical)

TAVR candidacy, comfort care path

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

RV failure, IV prostacyclin weaning

Atrial Fibrillation (Refractory/End-Stage)

Rate vs rhythm, anticoagulation decisions

Peripheral Arterial Disease (End-Stage)

Limb loss, wound care, ischemic pain

Post-Cardiac Arrest / Anoxic Brain Injury

Goals of care, withdrawal of support

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

Vent decisions, PEG, communication loss

Parkinson's Disease / Parkinson's-Plus

Dysphagia, falls, dementia overlap, sexuality, identity

Multiple Sclerosis (Progressive)

Spasticity, pressure injury, fatigue

Huntington's Disease

Chorea, dysphagia, psychiatric overlay

Stroke / CVA (End-Stage)

Swallowing, immobility, family decisions

Spinal Cord Injury (High-Level Permanent)

Vent, autonomic dysreflexia, skin

Myasthenia Gravis (Refractory)

Respiratory crisis, plasmapheresis decisions

Prion Disease (CJD/Fatal Insomnia)

Rapid decline, safety, family devastation

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)

Severe bulbar decline, profound fall risk, gaze palsy, communication loss

Muscular Dystrophy (e.g., Duchenne)

Ventilatory failure, cardiomyopathy, adult transition of care

Severe Cerebral Palsy (Aging out/Adult)

Severe spasticity, aspiration pneumonia, contractures, caregiver burnout

Alzheimer's Disease (Advanced)

Feeding decisions, aspiration, FAST staging

Vascular Dementia

Stepwise decline, stroke overlap

Lewy Body Dementia

Parkinsonism, hallucinations, antipsychotic danger

Frontotemporal Dementia

Younger patients, behavioral changes, family impact

Dementia with Advanced Frailty

Weight loss, recurrent infections, comfort focus

COPD (End-Stage / GOLD IV)

Dyspnea, steroid dependence, NIV decisions

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Oxygen dependence, cough, transplant loss

Cystic Fibrosis (Adult End-Stage)

Transplant decisions, infection, younger patients

Pulmonary Hypertension (End-Stage)

Right heart failure, IV therapy, volume

COVID-19 / Post-COVID Long Haul

Fibrosis, fatigue, ongoing disability

Severe Bronchiectasis

Copious secretions, massive hemoptysis risk, multi-drug resistant infections

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

Dialysis withdrawal, uremia, pruritus

Diabetes Mellitus (End-Stage)

Limb loss, neuropathy, renal overlap

End-Stage Liver Disease (Cirrhosis)

Ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome

Amyloidosis (Systemic)

Multi-organ, neuropathy, cardiac

Obesity Hypoventilation / Metabolic Failure

Positioning, skin, respiratory

Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)

Pulmonary fibrosis overlap, severe GI dysmotility, skin ulcers, pain

Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis / SLE

Joint contractures, chronic pain, medication-induced immunosuppression

Geriatric Frailty / Debility

Most common hospice dx, no clean diagnosis

HIV/AIDS (End-Stage)

Wasting, opportunistic infections, stigma

Sepsis / Multi-Organ Failure

Family meeting, withdrawal, futility

Cachexia / Cancer Anorexia Syndrome

Appetite, family feeding pressure, dignity

Pressure Injury / Wound Failure

Stage 4, unstageable, wound odor, family

Sickle Cell Disease (End-Stage)

Pain crisis, organ failure, younger patients

End-Stage GI Failure / Short Bowel

TPN decisions, nutrition withdrawal

Protein-Calorie Malnutrition

Severe wasting, skin breakdown risk, caregiver feeding distress

Trauma / Polytrauma (Non-survivable)

Acute goals, family crisis, brain death adjacent

Life-Limiting Genetic/Metabolic Disorders

E.g., Trisomy 13/18; seizure management, feeding intolerance, bereavement

Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)

Outliving prognosis, sudden arrhythmias, lack of adult-specialized providers