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New analysis signifies that many sufferers with superior most cancers report receiving therapy specializing in longevity over consolation, even when their objective is the other. The findings are revealed in Most cancers.
Therapy of great sicknesses usually goals to optimize longevity and high quality of life, however in some circumstances, these targets are at odds with one another. Due to this fact, clinicians should try to grasp every particular person’s targets in order that sufferers don’t obtain burdensome remedies that go in opposition to their needs.
“When treating advanced cancer, the goal is to help patients live as long and as well as possible. But sometimes, patients and oncologists face tough choices, especially when the goals of living longer and staying comfortable begin to compete with one another,” stated lead creator Manan P. Shah, MD, of the College of California, Los Angeles.
To evaluate the connection between sufferers’ preferences and their therapy, Dr. Shah and his colleagues analyzed survey responses from adults with superior most cancers and different critical sicknesses who have been enrolled in a multi-site trial of advance care planning.
Amongst 1,099 sufferers within the research, 49% of the 231 sufferers with superior most cancers most popular comfort-focused care, and 16% of the 231 sufferers died inside two years.
These proportions have been just like these noticed within the 868 sufferers with different critical sicknesses (48% and 13%). Amongst sufferers preferring comfort-focused care, sufferers with most cancers have been extra possible than sufferers with different sicknesses to report receiving discordant life-extending care (37% versus 19%).
Additionally, life-extending care didn’t seem to really lengthen life in sufferers who didn’t want to obtain it. Amongst sufferers with most cancers preferring comfort-focused care, there was no important distinction in two-year mortality between those that reported receiving discordant life-extending versus concordant comfort-focused care.
“This disconnect between what patients want and what they feel they’re getting is an important issue,” Dr. Shah stated.
“One takeaway is that doctors need to have open conversations with patients about their goals, clearly explain the intent of the treatment they are providing, and try to reconcile any real or perceived discordance between goals and treatment.”
Extra info:
Affected person-reported discordance between care targets and therapy intent in superior most cancers, Most cancers (2025). DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35976
Quotation:
Are sufferers with superior most cancers receiving therapy aligned with their targets? (2025, August 25)
retrieved 25 August 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-08-patients-advanced-cancer-treatment-aligned.html
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