What if a cancer patient doesn’t want chemotherapy?
When receiving a diagnosis as shocking as cancer, patients have the right to react in various ways.
In professional practice, various situations are experienced that may interfere with the personal opinion of the doctor, but that is the patient’s right.
For example, refusing to accept treatment is a position that may seem illogical to the doctor but to the patient it has quite logical moral, social or religious bases.
In any case, the oncology doctor must have the necessary capacity to deal with any reaction of patients in an ethical way, from acceptance of treatment, questioning and even denial.
Chemotherapy is a rigorous procedure that the patient’s body undergoes to stop and eliminate harmful cells, this same treatment has been taken by society in a negative way and an inadequate vision has been built around it.
While it is true that it causes great changes in the body, it is also true that it is one of the most effective treatments that has saved millions of lives.
What does the oncology health professional do in this situation?
At the time of providing the diagnosis, the doctor must establish a treatment plan, explain to the patient everything concerning their disease, the stage of the tumor, location, recommendations for changes in their current habits.
At that moment, a treatment route is proposed that can include one or more methods, each one is discussed and the risks, probabilities of effectiveness and changes in the patient’s lifestyle from that moment on are exposed.
It can be said that the accumulation of information and emotions that fall on the patient is overwhelming and it may be normal for them to refuse the recommended treatment.
For these cases, it is recommended that the doctor verify the reasons for refusing to receive the treatment, which may be:
- Moral points of view that threaten the patient's values and vision of life.
- Social pressure, doubts, or lack of knowledge
- Religious influence.
- Economic difficulties.
Knowing the patient’s reason is essential to know to what extent the professional can help the patient, for example, there are points that can be clarified such as fear and prejudice around a treatment, it is possible that once the doubts are answered the answer is yes to the treatment.
But, in other moral and religious terms, the doctor’s responsibility is, in addition to clarifying the risks of the decision, to provide information on palliative care.
Subsequently, the doctor must prepare a consent document with the informed rejection by legal terms.
What is palliative care?
They are a type of medical care that focuses on treating cancer symptoms such as nausea, pain, stomach upset, lack of appetite, etc.
Under this care, what is sought is to accompany the patient during their illness without providing any solution or cure for it.
Palliative care can be provided by family members at home, in private or public settings depending on the preferences and abilities of the patient and their family members.
When the stage of cancer is very advanced and the patient has a delicate health history that increases the chances of not tolerating treatment, it is best to recommend that they remain in palliative care until the disease ends its way.
Can I intervene as a family member of the patient?
As long as the patient has all their legal and mental capacities to make decisions about themselves, the relatives can do nothing more than accompany.
A valuable piece of advice is to accept the person’s decision no matter how painful it may be, we know how shocking it can be to know that a loved one refuses to receive treatment that can save their life.
You may feel helpless, angry and afraid of what is going to happen next, however, the best thing we can do as family or friends is to accompany the sick person in their process.
Some ideas to do with your loved one
- Talk about your reasons and listen without judgment. This can give you a more accurate view of what's going on in their mind so you can understand it.
- Get the necessary information about the disease and care to help you in the process.
- Present other treatment options that exist such as surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy to see if there is a possibility of fighting cancer, hoping that with their influence you will change your mind but willing to accept denial.
- Share moments with the loved one, visit them frequently, help them with comfort, be there at the times they need it.
Before trusting any information about cancer, it is best to check with a professional.
In case of doubts about your health, you can count on Dr. Roberto García when you need him.
