Can Chemotherapy-Related Deaths in Cancer Patients Be Reduced?

Chemotherapy-related mortality refers to patients receiving chemotherapy in their last month. Experienced modern clinics aim toward zero. Although unwanted, some small risk exists for every patient. Patients, relatives and physicians should avoid contributing factors and work together to minimize it.

Two Main Causes Lead to Chemotherapy-Related Deaths:

• The firstis, after guideline-based chemotherapy preventing recurrence or extending life, treatment-adverse-effect-related deaths.
• The second is death from overtreatment.

Do Not Hesitate to Ask the Healthcare Team About Adverse Effects

A common problem is reluctance to come to hospital after chemotherapy. Not wanting to inconvenience relatives, patients ignore recognized symptoms they were warned about or call an acquaintance to cope instead.

It often begins with poor appetite, weakness, nausea, feeling unwell, inadequate fluid intake and fever. I urge patients to contact the team immediately. Brief assessment and supportive infusions and medicines often relieve symptoms; without major blood-count or general-condition problems, oral medicines and discharge follow. This usually prevents serious problems.

Ignoring warning signs and waiting for deterioration increases reluctance and delay. Unless relatives recognize the need and contact the team, the patient may become much worse within hours or the next day, inviting serious risks. Sometimes delay lasts several days until severe deterioration. Older patients, those with comorbidities and poor performance may be more vulnerable. Physicians should educate them, and families should be particularly careful and responsible after chemotherapy.

Early Drug Adverse Effects Usually Occur in the First Week

Correct use of supportive medicines usually relieves symptoms. If they persist despite advice, contacting the team promptly avoids risking life.

Low chemotherapy-related blood counts and associated infection are signaled by fever , often on days 7-14. This oncology alarm indicates inadequate defenses and life-threatening infection (febrile neutropenia). Seek emergency care immediately, day or night. Delayed contact with fever and poor general condition substantially increases chemotherapy-related mortality.

Adequate treatment education and dietitian and psychologist consultations are essential. Clinics applying these systematically, with responsible, cautious patients and relatives, can reduce deaths nearly to zero.

The second cause is overtreatment . In the next article, alongside a self-critical French study presented at ESMO 2016, we discussed overtreatment and how to avoid it.