The Facilitating Role of Chemotherapy in the Palliative Phase of Cancer: Qualitative Interviews with Advanced Cancer Patients

Objective: To explore the extent to which patients have a directing role in decisions about chemotherapy in the palliative phase of cancer and (want to) anticipate on the last stage of life. Design: Qualitative interview study. Methods: In depth-interviews with 15 patients with advanced colorectal or breast cancer at the medical oncology department in a Dutch teaching hospital; interviews were analysed following the principles of thematic content-analysis. Results: All patients reported to know that the chemotherapy they received was with palliative intent. Most of them did not express the wish for information about (other) treatment options and put great trust in their physicians ’ treatment advice. The more patients were aware of the severity of their disease, the more they seemed to ‘live their life ’ in the present and enjoy things besides having cancer. Such living in the present seemed to be facilitated by the use of chemotherapy. Patients often considered the ‘chemotherapy-free period ’ more stressful than periods when receiving chemotherapy despite their generally improved physical condition. Chemotherapy (regardless of side-effects) seemed to shift patients ’ attention away from the approaching last stage of life. Interestingly, although patients often discussed advance care planning, they were reluctant to bring on end-of-life issues that bothered them at that specific moment. Expressing real interest in people ‘as a person ’ was considered an important element of appropriate care