CONCLUSIONS

• The perspectives of people with colorectal cancer can be challenging to understand for those not facing the experience firsthand, even oncology professionals. Physicians should consider that potential heterogeneity exists in patient attitudes with regard to the risk-benefit tradeoffs of adjuvant chemotherapy, and individualized treatment decisions should consider the perspectives of that person.
  
  
• Patients’ experiences with the side effects of adjuvant chemotherapy may be quite different from what they expect, and it is important to consider that external sources such as other patients or friends and relatives may be contributing to gaps in physician-patient communication about treatment-related toxicities.
  
  
• These findings are limited by the potential bias introduced because participants had previously decided to receive adjuvant chemotherapy and were generally free of recurrence. However, the survey suggests an opportunity to supplement the information patients receive from their medical oncologists. To confirm the findings and explore how improvements may be implemented, the next step will be to conduct a prospective, real-time evaluation of patients undergoing this decision-making process and to evaluate the impact of an audio/web program to enhance physician-patient communication.

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

Coates AS, Simes RJ. Patient assessment of adjuvant treatment in operable breast cancer. In: Williams CJ, editor. Introducing new treatments for cancer: Practical, ethical and legal problems. London (UK): Wiley 1992. p 447-58.

Simes RJ, Coates AS. Patient preferences for adjuvant chemotherapy of early breast cancer: How much benefit is needed? J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2001;(30):146-52. Abstract

 

Table of Contents

Top of Page