Chemotherapy May Worsen End Of Life Quality

A new study by the Center for Research on End-Of-Life Care at Weill Cornell Medical College in NY reports surprising and unexpected results. In a study of 312 cancer patients given 6 months or less to live, even stronger patients that were given Chemo in the hope of improving survival time had worsened quality of life and no difference in survival time from those opting out of another round of end stage chemo.

If you have a loved one or friend that had treatment at this late stage you more than likely knew this already.

There is a time and place for everything. In the case of late stage cancer we have seen time and again the sad cycle of constipation, diarrhea nausea and other problems destroy quality of life. Hopefully this study will make the excruciating question all cancer patients with a short time to live ask themselves: "should I try another round of Chemo?" an easier decision. And, we have not even discussed the exorbitant cost of these treatments, a financial windfall for the medical establishment!

Some of the PAF Hikers at the Land's End to Baker Beach hike.