UK Edition
Telling patients to 'fight' cancer puts them under pressure, says Macmillan
Cancer patients should not be told to “fight” their disease because doing so puts them under “exhausing pressure”, Macmillan Cancer Support has said.
The charity warned that framing cancer in terms of a battle leaves patients feeling guilty for admitting fear and often prevents them planning properly for their death.
Macmillan said thousands of sufferers were unnecessarily dying in hospital rather than their own home each year because of a “gulf in communication” towards the end of life.
Experts last night called for a cultural change around cancer so patients no longer feel compelled to put on a brave face.
Research commissioned by the charity reveals nearly two thirds of sufferers never talk to anyone about their fears of dying due to the pressure to see themself as a “fighter”.
Meanwhile 28 per cent reported feelings of guilt if they cannot stay positive about their disease.
Adrienne Betteley, end-of-life care advisor at Macmillan, said: “We know that “battling” against cancer can help some people remain upbeat about their disease, but for others the effort of keeping up a brave face is exhausting and unhelpful in the long-term.
The new report, titled Missed Opportunities, shows that despite 64 per cent of people with cancer preferring to die at home, currently only 30 per cent achieve this.
Instead, 37 per cent of patients die in hospital in England and Wales - more than 55,000 each year, while 17 per cent die in a hospice and 14 per cent in a care home.
The report said the pressure to stay positive and support people to “fight” cancer was one of the biggest barriers to holding conversations about dying, even in patients who had already received a terminal diagnosis.
“We need to let people define their own experiences without using language that might create a barrier to vital conversations about dying,” said Ms Betteley.
“For health and social care professionals, there is often a fear that the person is not ready to talk about dying.
“We know, however, that making plans while receiving treatment allows people with cancer to retain a sense of control during an emotionally turbulent time.”
One in two people will receive a diagnosis of cancer at some points in their lives, according to Cancer Research UK, although the rates of those dying from the disease are improving.
The Macmillan report said that in many cases patients are not even aware they have a choice about where they can be cared for in their final days, and that despite regular contact with specialist doctors and nurses, these conversations do not take place.
The YouGov survey found fewer than one fifth of such discussions that do take place are initiated by healthcare staff.
The new report follows a Daily Telegraph investigation in 2016 which revealed widespread failings in end-of-life care across the NHS.
It prompted warnings that just one in ten hospitals offer expert care to the dying on a 24/7 basis and a demand from the General Medical Council to improve palliative teaching at Britain’s medical schools.
Macmillan called on the Government to honour commitments to ensure Advanced Care Planning, which should kick in towards the end of a person’s life, is delivered fully across the NHS.