Waiting for the platelet count to rise: negotiating care at the end of life.
Oncologists play a crucial role in enabling patients at the end of life and their families to decide whether the burden of chemotherapy is worth the benefit. Using language that displays their concern for providing ongoing care and that does not mistakenly imply withholding of effective therapies can ease the transition off chemotherapy. Providing accurate, timely prognostic information; exploring patients' hopes, goals, and values; helping them resume meaningful activities; meeting their health care proxies and discussing the advance care plan with them can all enhance the relationship with patients at the end of life and ease fears of abandonment.
Abrahm
Janet L
JL
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jabrahm@partners.org
D016223:Advance Directives; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003142:Communication; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D017008:Negotiating; D010166:Palliative Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D013727:Terminal Care; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents