It is but natural for cancer patients (or any patient for that matter) to seek the best treatments and find sound ways that will bring healing. In line with this, a new study has found that cancer patients who have children are more likely to seek more life-extending treatments.
The study, which was recently presented at an American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Boston last October 18, 2014, involved 42 parents with advanced cancer, with a mean age of 44 years old. The children of these parents had a mean age of 12 years old.
The findings revealed that when asked about how parenthood affects treatment choices, around two-thirds of the parents said that it motivates them to seek for more ways to extend their lives, largely so they could have more time with their kids.
According to Ph.D. student Devon Check of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a number of psychosocial factors influence patients' cancer treatment decisions. In a news release from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Check said that parents of dependent children in particular need to discuss treatment priorities with their oncologist to give light to preserving a parent's functioning at home whilst dealing with cancer.
The study also found that only around half of the patients expressed their interest in hospice services, most of who exerted that hospice services can be seen as a source of support for their families. Other patients noted that they were amenable to institutional hospice care to protect their children from witnessing them die at home.
Moreso, twenty-four percent of the patients said that they were interested in receiving palliative care along with their cancer care.
Check and colleagues hope that their study can help oncologists in engaging patients with children in collaborative and shared decision making, as well as aligning treatment plans with patients' personal priorities, specifically family responsibilities.