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March 2, 2025 – For terminally ill cancer patients, the decision to continue or cease cancer treatments is deeply personal. However, a recent Rutgers Health study published in the journal Cancer has revealed that a patient’s end-of-life treatment is often more influenced by their oncologist’s prescribing habits than their own preferences.
“A patient’s end of life is often not a reflection of what they want, but rather, who their oncologist happens to be,” said Login S. George, a health services researcher at the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and lead author of the study. “The data doesn’t indicate patient-centered treatment decisions, but rather, more habitual or default ways of treating patients.”
The study analyzed national data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, examining 17,609 patients who died from breast, lung, colorectal, or prostate cancer between 2012 and 2017, and the 960 oncologists who treated them.
Researchers found that patients receiving care from oncologists with “high” prescribing behaviors were 4.5 times more likely to receive cancer treatment in the final days of life compared to those treated by oncologists with “low” prescribing behaviors. This significant variation suggests that oncologists’ personal tendencies, rather than strict adherence to clinical guidelines or patient wishes, often dictate treatment decisions.
Key findings from the study include:
- Patients treated by “high” prescribing oncologists were significantly more likely to receive late-stage treatment.
- Patients with breast cancer had higher odds of receiving late-stage treatment than those with lung cancer.
- Black patients and unmarried patients had lower odds of receiving treatment in the last month of life compared to white and married patients, respectively.
The researchers emphasize that despite clinical guidelines recommending the cessation of chemotherapy in the final days of life, significant variations in practice exist. They suggest that making information about oncologist prescribing behaviors publicly available could empower patients to make more informed decisions.
“When we go out to eat or go shopping, we don’t just blindly pick a restaurant or randomly grab the first thing we see on the shelf. We look at the ratings and reviews to see what other people experienced as we make decisions,” George said. “Shouldn’t patients with cancer have the same luxury? As health care consumers, we have a right to know about the providers that we pick.”
Future research will focus on exploring the factors that influence patient and clinician decisions regarding end-of-life cancer treatments and hospice care.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information available at the time of publication and reflects the findings of a specific study. Medical practices and individual patient needs vary significantly. This study highlights a correlation between oncologist prescribing habits and end-of-life treatment, but further research is needed to fully understand the underlying factors. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Patients with cancer or concerns about end-of-life care should consult with their oncologist or a qualified healthcare professional for personalized guidance. The information regarding the study is based on information provided by Rutgers Health.
