Chemotherapy at the End of Life.
cancer/oncology
chemotherapy
death and dying
palliative care
Journal
Journal of palliative care
ISSN: 2369-5293
Titre abrégé: J Palliat Care
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 8610345
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Apr 2021
Apr 2021
Historique:
pubmed:
9
8
2020
medline:
4
9
2021
entrez:
9
8
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The use of chemotherapy at the end of life in advanced cancer patients has increased and end of life care has become increasingly aggressive. The aim of this study is to evaluate patients receiving chemotherapy in the last 3 months of life and the aggressiveness of end-of-life support of these patients. All adult patients with solid tumors who received chemotherapy in their last 3 months of life and died in our hospital between January 2015 to June 2019 were included. Detailed information on chemotherapy and toxicity was collected in patient records. A total of 182 patients included. Median age was 58,9 years. The median survival from the docementation of metastatic disease was 9,98 months (0,95-64,3). Of these 182 patients, 95 (52%) were treated with chemotherapy in the last month of life and 52 (29%) in the last 2 weeks of life. The median number of days between the last administration of chemotherapy and patient death was 29 (0-90). A new chemotherapy regimen was started in the last 3 months of life in 102 patients (56%), in the last month of life in 43 patients (23,6%) and in the last 2 weeks in 23 patients (12.6%). There are many patients who received chemotherapy in the last 3 months of their life and the rates of chemotherapy initiation during this period are well above ideal rates. Whether such care has positive effects on survival or quality of life is questionable and deserves additional investigation.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
The use of chemotherapy at the end of life in advanced cancer patients has increased and end of life care has become increasingly aggressive. The aim of this study is to evaluate patients receiving chemotherapy in the last 3 months of life and the aggressiveness of end-of-life support of these patients.
METHODS
METHODS
All adult patients with solid tumors who received chemotherapy in their last 3 months of life and died in our hospital between January 2015 to June 2019 were included. Detailed information on chemotherapy and toxicity was collected in patient records.
RESULTS
RESULTS
A total of 182 patients included. Median age was 58,9 years. The median survival from the docementation of metastatic disease was 9,98 months (0,95-64,3). Of these 182 patients, 95 (52%) were treated with chemotherapy in the last month of life and 52 (29%) in the last 2 weeks of life. The median number of days between the last administration of chemotherapy and patient death was 29 (0-90). A new chemotherapy regimen was started in the last 3 months of life in 102 patients (56%), in the last month of life in 43 patients (23,6%) and in the last 2 weeks in 23 patients (12.6%).
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
There are many patients who received chemotherapy in the last 3 months of their life and the rates of chemotherapy initiation during this period are well above ideal rates. Whether such care has positive effects on survival or quality of life is questionable and deserves additional investigation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32762320
doi: 10.1177/0825859720946505
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM