Cancer patients' false hope revealed

Patients dying of cancer often develop a false optimism that they will get better because both they and their doctors are reluctant to admit they will not recover, say researchers.

They suggest that doctors and patients collude in a 'recovery plot', rather than recognising that the cancer is incurable.

But many patients, when they do acknowledge the inevitable, say they would rather have known the truth earlier, so they could have had more time to say their goodbyes and make final preparations.

A Dutch study in the British Medical Journal suggests that 'treatment brokers' could act as gobetweens, helping doctors and patients come to terms with imminent death.

But a leading British expert, Dr John Toy of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, said maintaining optimism and a positive outlook helps many patients. He added: 'They feel better, which helps their quality of life. It is very important to maintain a sense of hope both for patients and doctors.'

Researchers in the Netherlands sat in on consultations with 35 people suffering from incurable lung cancer.

They watched their psychological progress from initial diagnosis until their deaths, and studied the way doctors communicated with them.

All but six patients showed signs of false optimism, especially when after a first course of treatment X-rays showed the cancer cleared.

Patients gradually came to realise the truth when the disease came back, their condition deteriorated and they had contact with fellow patients in a worse state.

Researcher Anne-Mei The said: 'It became apparent that patients rarely dealt with approaching death. They were making plans for the future.

'Although patients collude with doctors in maintaining optimism, most of them regret this with hindsight.'

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