what is palliative chemotherapy

Palliative chemotherapy is chemotherapy given in the non-curative setting to optimize symptom control, improve quality of life, and sometimes to improve survival. It is used to help reduce cancer symptoms, improve the quality, and in some cases, the length of life. Palliative chemotherapy may be part of cancer treatment when the cancer has spread and chemotherapy is not being used to cure the cancer. The goals of palliative chemotherapy are different from those of chemotherapy meant to cure someone of their cancer. The main goal of palliative treatment is to improve the quality of life. Palliative chemotherapy can shrink the cancer, improve distressing symptoms caused by cancer, and help the patient live longer. It is important to note that palliative chemotherapy is not just about medicines to control symptoms, such as painkillers and anti-sickness drugs, but also includes cancer treatments that can reduce or get rid of symptoms, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted cancer drugs, surgery, radiofrequency ablation, and cryotherapy. The decision to prescribe palliative chemotherapy needs to be weighed against life expectancy, current symptoms, and the pros and cons of the treatment. The decision to prescribe palliative chemotherapy can be a difficult one, and patients should ask their oncologists important questions such as the response rate, the median duration of response, and the side effects of the proposed chemotherapy.