TY - JOUR
T1 - Deciding on adjuvant chemotherapy for elderly patients with stage III colon cancer: A qualitative insight into the perspectives of surgeons and medical oncologists
AU - van Erning, Felice N.
AU - Janssen-Heijnen, Maryska L. G.
AU - Creemers, Geert-Jan
AU - Pruijt, Hans F. M.
AU - Maas, Huub A. A. M.
AU - Lemmens, Valery E. P. P.
PY - 2015/5
Y1 - 2015/5
N2 - Objective: The aim of this study is to identify doctor-related factors determining the decision-making for adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage III colon cancer aged >= 75 years. Materials and Methods: 21 surgeons and 15 medical oncologists from 10 community hospitals were asked to complete a short questionnaire including tick-box questions regarding motives for non-referral/non-treatment, consultation of geriatricians, chemotherapy schemes prescribed and an open question regarding tolerability of chemotherapy. Results: 29 medical specialists returned a completed questionnaire (response 81%). The motives for non-referral/non-treatment reported most often were comorbidity/bad general health condition of the patient; surgical complications; and treatment offered but refused by patient/family. 39% of the surgeons and 55% of the medical oncologists reported consultation of a geriatrician in 2-30% of their decisions. CAPOX and capecitabine were reported by medical oncologists as the most frequently prescribed regimens. Factors that influenced the decision for monotherapy or combination therapy were comorbidity; general health condition of the patient; and toxicity profile of the chemotherapeutics. In general, medical oncologists defined grade
AB - Objective: The aim of this study is to identify doctor-related factors determining the decision-making for adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage III colon cancer aged >= 75 years. Materials and Methods: 21 surgeons and 15 medical oncologists from 10 community hospitals were asked to complete a short questionnaire including tick-box questions regarding motives for non-referral/non-treatment, consultation of geriatricians, chemotherapy schemes prescribed and an open question regarding tolerability of chemotherapy. Results: 29 medical specialists returned a completed questionnaire (response 81%). The motives for non-referral/non-treatment reported most often were comorbidity/bad general health condition of the patient; surgical complications; and treatment offered but refused by patient/family. 39% of the surgeons and 55% of the medical oncologists reported consultation of a geriatrician in 2-30% of their decisions. CAPOX and capecitabine were reported by medical oncologists as the most frequently prescribed regimens. Factors that influenced the decision for monotherapy or combination therapy were comorbidity; general health condition of the patient; and toxicity profile of the chemotherapeutics. In general, medical oncologists defined grade
KW - Adjuvant chemotherapy
KW - Chemotherapy-related toxicity
KW - Colon cancer
KW - Elderly
KW - Geriatrics
KW - Oncology
KW - Referral
KW - Treatment-related decision-making
U2 - 10.1016/j.jgo.2015.02.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jgo.2015.02.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 25703856
SN - 1879-4068
VL - 6
SP - 219
EP - 224
JO - Journal of Geriatric Oncology
JF - Journal of Geriatric Oncology
IS - 3
ER -