individuals of a younger age who would have been in this

sense, exceptional in a way that could not be adequately

evaluated. Third, the patient must have had a prognosis of

six months or less as judged by his or her primary physician.

 The patients who met these criteria were identified by

the HHMC Oncology Resources Coordinator who routinely screens

all cancer patients admitted to the inpatient unit and by the

registered nurses staffing the outpatient chemotherapy unit.

Information on the patients identified for study was obtained

from the third week in February, 1982, through February 1,

1983. With the exception of a week each in March, April,

October, November, and two weeks in August, this information

was obtained through weekly visits to HHMC through November

of 1982. The number of visits each week ranged from one to

three. The information was obtained by phone during December

1982 and January 1983. As information was obtained, initial

visits in the inpatient or outpatient unit were scheduled.

 A total of 57 patients were referred for study. Of

these 2 were contacted but declined to participate, 6 were

contacted but judged to be too ill to complete the inter-

view, 2 were contacted but proved to have hearing impair-

ments that prevented clear communication, and 14 were

discharged from the facility before interviews could be

scheduled. The remaining 33 patients were interviewed for

the psychosocial analysis. Two of these were subsequently