Making the decision to stop chemotherapy can be a difficult one. It is important to consider the potential benefits and risks of continuing or stopping treatment. Your oncologist can help you make an informed decision by providing information about the effectiveness of the treatment, potential side effects, and other options. When considering whether to stop chemotherapy, it is important to discuss your concerns with your oncologist.
They can provide information about the effectiveness of the treatment, potential side effects, and other options. Your oncologist may also suggest that you talk to a social worker or attend a support group with others who are facing similar decisions. Your oncologist will consider a variety of factors when determining if chemotherapy is working or not. These include the results of tests, your functional status, and the recommendations of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) and Choosing Wisely.
If tests suggest that chemotherapy isn't working or has stopped working, your doctor may recommend other options. If chemotherapy stops working, discuss the other options with your oncologist, the rest of your healthcare team, and your loved ones before making a future treatment decision. The best option is the one you feel comfortable with, whether it's continuing chemotherapy, exploring experimental treatments, or stopping treatment altogether. The oncologist may suggest new treatments, such as trying different combinations of chemotherapy drugs that include experimental options.
Oncologists may also suggest switching from intravenous to oral chemotherapy for certain patients. This could be due to potential benefits of the regimen as second-line therapy for those without mutation or for those who later tested positive for the EGFR mutation. The median number of days between discontinuation of oral chemotherapy and death was 34 days (range, 0 to 732 days).When deciding whether to stop chemotherapy, it is important to consider all available information and weigh the potential benefits and risks. Your oncologist can help you make an informed decision by providing information about the effectiveness of the treatment, potential side effects, and other options.
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