Cancer patients often overestimate value of chemo

Most patients getting chemotherapy for incurable lung or colon cancers mistakenly believe that the treatment can cure them rather than just buy them some more time or ease their symptoms, a major study suggests. Researchers say doctors either are not being honest enough with patients or people are in denial that they have a terminal disease. The study highlights the problem of overtreatment at the end of life - futile care that simply prolongs dying. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Weeks JC, et al. Patients' Expectations about Effects of Chemotherapy for Advanced Cancer. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1616-1625.