What are typical treatment goals a patient may consider when treating an uncurable cancer?

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MikeRabowMD (Physician - Hospice / Palliative Care (Verified) ) - 05 / 18 / 2012

When a cancer can be cured, cure is almost always part of what a patient and their family want. But, there are typically other things that people want as well. Almost always, patients want as long a life as possible, but also they don’t want to suffer a life of such low quality that the time isn’t worth it. People want a life worth living. Oten that means avoiding pain, maintaining dignity, not bankrupting family or being a burden, being able to be in their own home, etc. In this situation, people typically have multiple goals (both quantity and quality).

When cancer is no longer curable, most want to prolong their life as long as possible, but also achieve these other goals of quality of life.

When cancer can no longer be controlled, or controlled only with intolerable side effects, these other goals may become the sole goals of care. Although palliative care to improve quality of life is always appropriate alongside curative cancer treatments, when cancer cannot be controlled, palliative care may become the only goal of care.

Importantly, recent evidence shows that improved quality of life (including decreased depression) may actually lead to improved quantity of life. Living better may be part of living as long as possible.
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