Julie McCrossin: Cancer patients need “open and honest communication about prognosis”

Julie McCrossin, Australian Journalist, Radio broadcaster and Cancer Survivor, shared on LinkedIn:           .

“Why do cancer patients need ‘open and honest communication about prognosis’ if we have very advanced metastatic solid tumours? So we can participate fully in decisions about the last period of our lives.

‘Question: Is oncologic treatment of very advanced disease associated with improved survival?

‘Findings: In this cohort study of 78 446 adult patients from a nationwide database of patients with 6 common metastatic solid tumors, there was no statistically significant survival benefit for patients treated at practices that used more systemic therapy for very advanced cancer compared with patients treated at practices that used less.

‘Meaning: In seeing no improvements in survival among practices with highest rates of treatment for very advanced disease, oncologists may hesitate before offering additional therapy and focus on open and honest communication about prognosis, allowing patients to make informed decisions.

‘Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, patients with metastatic or advanced cancer treated at practices with higher NQF 0210 rates did not have improved survival. Future efforts should focus on helping oncologists identify when additional therapy is futile, developing goals of care communication skills, and aligning payment incentives with improved end-of-life care.”

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Source: Julie McCrossin/LinkedIn