comfort measures

Videos can help cancer patients choose level of care they prefer

EurekAlert! - Cancer  Tue, 12/01/2009 - 23:00

(Massachusetts General Hospital) Patients with terminal brain cancer who watched a brief video illustrating options for end-of-life care were significantly more likely to indicate a preference for comfort measures only than were patients who listened to a verbal description of treatment choices.

Practically all those viewing the video would choose not to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after their cancer became advanced, compared with only half of those in the control group.