Overview
- Among patients who prioritized comfort, 37% of those with advanced cancer reported receiving life‑extending treatment compared with 19% of patients with other serious illnesses.
- In the study cohort, 49% of the 231 patients with advanced cancer preferred comfort‑focused care, and 16% died within two years.
- For cancer patients preferring comfort, two‑year mortality showed no statistically significant difference between those reporting life‑extending care and those reporting comfort‑focused care (24% versus 15%).
- The analysis drew on surveys from 1,099 adults enrolled in a multi‑site advance care planning trial in the United States, including 231 with advanced cancer.
- Authors call for earlier, clearer goals‑of‑care discussions, citing evidence that many oncologists hesitate to start these conversations when patients appear well or still have treatment options.