Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2017

How long will this go on? Decisions about treatment duration and stopping. (#109)

Catriona McNeil 1
  1. Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

The introduction of immunotherapy in the management of advanced cancers has made a significant impact on the lives of patients. Responses vary from dramatic to disappointing. For responders, this revolutionary therapy has left our patients with considerable uncertainty around critical questions of treatment duration, sequencing and resistance, and the toxic unknown effects of long-term drug exposure.  For those in whom immunotherapy is not the answer, oncologists are also faced with managing the sometimes unrealistic expectations of patients and their families. This presentation discusses the ethical issues surrounding the care of cancer patients in the era of rapid drug development, and access to information out of context.