Table 1 Baseline characteristics and symptom burden of participants with advanced cancer, who filled out the cross-sectional symptom assessment survey.

Characteristics	Participants n = 532
Characteristics	n (%)
Age category
30–45 years	15 (2.8)
46–67 years	208 (39.1)
68–80 years	222 (41.7)
≥ 81 years	84 (15.8)
Unknown	3 (0.6)
Gender
Male	277 (52.1)
Female	252 (47.4)
Unknown	3 (0.6)
Primary cancer site^a
Breast	69 (13.0)
Melanoma	16 (3.0)
Lymphatic system/ leukemia	17 (3.2)
Bladder/urinary tract	23 (4.3)
Colon	81 (15.2)
Lung	101 (19.0)
Prostate	56 (10.5)
Kidney	14 (2.6)
Endometrium	6 (1.1)
Ovaries	16 (3.0)
Pancreas	34 (6.4)
Head/neck	23 (4.3)
Esophagus	15 (2.8)
Liver	10 (1.9)
Brain	13 (2.4)
Neuroendocrine tumours	10 (1.9)
Other^b	71 (13.3)
Metastases
Yes	373 (70.1)
Disease modifying treatment during last 3 months
Systemic therapy^c	263 (49.4)
Radiotherapy	132 (24.8)
Surgery	44 (8.3)
No	192 (36.0)
Patient-reported functional status^d
0	61 (11.5)
1	178 (33.5)
2	95 (17.9)
3	145 (27.3)
4	45 (8.5)
Place of residence
At home	275 (51.7)
Hospital	75 (14.1)
Hospice	158 (29.7)
Nursing home	10 (1.9)
Other^e	4 (0.8)
Symptom score ≥ 4
Pain	195 (36.6)
Sleeping problems	209 (39.3)
Dry mouth	241 (45.3)
Dysphagia	111 (20.9)
Lack of appetite	274 (51.5)
Constipation	265 (49.8)
Nausea	64 (12.0)
Shortness of breath	99 (18.6)
Fatigue	344 (64.7)
Anxiety	131 (24.6)
Depressed mood	161 (30.3)

^aCancer site exceeds 100% because patients had more than one primary cancer site.
^bOther primary cancer sites: Bonemarrow, M. Kahler, multiple myeloma, bone, gallbladder, cholangiocarcinoma, small intestine, anal cancer, stomach cancer, basal skin carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, leiomyosarcoma, sarcoma, GIST, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, mesothelioma.
^cChemotherapy and/or hormone therapy and/or immunotherapy and/or other (intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, BRAF targeted therapy, unspecified targeted therapy).
^dPatient-reported functional status²²: 0 = normal with no limitations; 1 = not my normal self, but able to be up and about with fairly normal activities; 2 = not feeling up to most things, but in bed or chair less than half of the day; 3 = able to do little activity and spend most of the day in bed or chair; 4 = pretty much bedridden, rarely out of bed.
^eLiving facility for mentally disabled people, rehabilitation center, care home, care hotel.

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