"The patient's perspective of the clinical utility of second-line chemotherapy"

There is a well-recognised mismatch between the perceptions of cancer patients and non-cancer sufferers, in terms of the benefits of first-line palliative chemotherapy.
Attitudes of patients and doctors to second-line chemotherapy, which usually has a low response rate and is often toxic and expensive, now require examination.
Patients with ovarian cancer, small cell lung cancer and breast cancer, where second-line chemotherapy is frequently used, will be studied, as will control groups of normal subjects, General Practitioners and cancer specialists.
Subjects will be asked to assess their personal cost-benefit of second-line chemotherapy by indicating the degree of benefit from a hypothetical treatment which would be more acceptable.
The influence of prior chemotherapy experience on decision-making will be assessed, as will the acceptability of best supportive care as an alternative to second-line chemotherapy.
Re-examination of patients after second-line chemotherapy will be performed.

The investigation aims to measure the clinical efficacy of second-line chemotherapy in advanced cancer from the recipient's point of view.
Information gained will be useful in the planning of cancer services.

Publications to date:

Balmer, CE, Osborne RJ. Investigating the patient's perspective of the clinical utility of second-line chemotherapy. Eur J Onc Nurs 1998: 2; 64-66

Balmer CE, Thomas P, Osborne RJ.  Who wants second-line palliative chemotherapy?  Psycho-Oncology 2001; 10: 410-418

Further information can be obtained from:

Dr Richard Osborne
Consultant in Medical Oncology
Poole Hospital NHS Trust
The Dorset Cancer Centre
Longfleet Road
Poole            

Dorset   BH15 2JB

UK