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e16505 Background: In metastatic cancers, treatments are aimed at palliation, focusing on life extension and quality of life (QoL) improvement rather than cure. This study aims to investigate the alignment between patient expectations and the realistic outcomes of treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and metastatic bladder cancer (mBC). Methods: Between 15.03.2023-15.01.2024, an online survey was conducted targeting patients with mRCC and mBC. The primary objective was to evaluate the patients’ understanding and expectations concerning curability and the anticipated outcomes of their treatments in a metastatic setting. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the impact of patients' QoL and levels of optimism on their perceptions of cure and treatment outcomes. EORTC 30.3 QoL questionnaire and Life Oriented Test (LOT) were administered. Results: A total of 169 patients participated, with a median age of 63 years.72.2% of patients assessed their general health state as "good", 13.6% as "excellent", 11.8% as "fair", and 2.4% as "poor." Out of the patients surveyed, 40.2% considered cure as "very likely," 45% as "likely," 4.7% as "a little likely," and one as "not possible." The table shows patients' perspectives on improving disease symptoms, doing daily tasks easier, and living longer with treatment. Patients' perception of cure was not affected by gender, age, treatment modality, or general health status. While only 9 patients perceived cure as "a little likely" or "not possible," this group has lower median QoL and LOT scores than those who believed cure was "very likely" or "likely." This pattern is observed in their perceptions regarding the improvement symptoms, ability to make daily life activities easier, and expectations of living longer. Conclusions: Patients with mRCC and mBC have expectations of cure from treatments that may not align with clinical realities. Prioritizing clear communication and patient participation in treatment planning, particularly around palliative care is essential for effective care delivery. Table: see text
Bölek et al. (Sat,) studied this question.