Laurel J. Lyckholm, MD

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Articles

Giving Honest Information to Patients With Advanced Cancer Maintains Hope

Thomas J. Smith, MD;Lindsay A. Dow, MD;James Khatcheressian, MD;Laurel J. Lyckholm, MD;Robin Matsuyama, PhD

May 15th 2010

Oncologists often do not give honest prognostic and treatment-effect information to patients with advanced disease, trying not to “take away hope.” The authors, however, find that hope is maintained when patients with advanced cancer are given truthful prognostic and treatment information, even when the news is bad.

'Futile Care': What to Do When Your Patient Insists on Chemotherapy That Likely Won’t Help

James Khatcheressian, MD;Sara Beth Harrington, MD;Laurel J. Lyckholm, MD;Thomas J. Smith, MD

July 1st 2008

The use of the term "futility" in cancer care has been prompted, in part, by increasing requests from patients for treatments thought to be ineffective as well as costly.[1] The appropriate role of chemotherapy near the end of life is a complex issue.[2]