Treating Cancer More Effectively Through Shared

Decision Making

Introduction
Cancer  causes a substantial burden to people across the world. There were around
14.1 million new cancer cases and 8.2 million deaths caused by cancer in 2012
alone(Torre et al., 2016). The deadliest disease in Hong Kong is cancer, causing 8645
deaths in 2019(Centre for Health Protection, 2020). Therefore, it is of utmost
importance to manage cancer situations most effectively. 

Typical cancer treatment

Typical cancer treatment methods may not be in line with the best interests of
patients. When cancer is diagnosed, most patients would first receive surgery to
remove the majority of the cancer tissue. Then, the patients will have several options
to follow up on their conditions. Follow-up treatment options usually include
chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, et cetera.
Different treatment methods come with variable risks and effects, and patients would
have to choose theirs. The common practice is to opt for the treatment with the
highest survivability rates to achieve a greater life expectancy. These often result in
more active treatments such as high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or even
further major surgeries. As a result, the patients may suffer from more side effects like
appetite loss, hair loss, pain, some of which can be avoided by selecting alternate, less
invasive treatment. The effects mentioned above may be mild, but they would cause
great deteriorations in patients' quality of life. Even with a longer life expectancy,
patients may be severely restricted in their actions, hence unable to enjoy their limited
remaining life. This concern is particularly relevant to patients with advanced cancer
conditions. They often view the freedom to exercise their own will, rather than life
prolongation, as the most important. Therefore, typical cancer treatment methods may
conflict with patients' will. 

Role of shared decision making

Shared decision making can be used to formulate a treatment plan that has the
patients' best interest. By informing patients of the merits and drawbacks of different
treatment combinations, they can assess the risks they are willing to take and compare
them with the risks each treatment plan poses. Therefore, they can choose a plan most
suited to their preference and strike a balance between optimal treatment and quality
of life. For example, patients can choose according to their values when given a
choice from high-risk operations that may completely cure their cancer and mild
medications to keep the condition under control. If the patients are young and willing
to take risks, they would probably opt for further operations. However, patients in
their 70s may not wish to take any further risk and hope to enjoy their remaining time
as pain-free as possible. Thus, they may choose mild medications and avoid invasive
operations. Therefore, shared decision making allows patients to receive treatments
that suit their needs the most. 

Shared decision making can also construct trust between medical personnel and
patients. By letting patients know the risks and benefits of different treatments and
helping them make their decisions, they can feel the good intentions of the medical
personnel and understand that medical personnel have their best interests in mind.
Therefore, they may feel less stress when receiving treatment. This contributes to a
healthy and positive mind, which may aid the patients in fighting their disease and a
greater chance to cure it. 

Conclusion
Cancer is one of the greatest threats the world face. With shared decision making,
cancer may be treated more effectively and thus reduce suffering in the world. 

References
1. Sung, H(2021) Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality
Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. American Cancer Society Journals.
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21660
2. Centre for Health Protection(2019) Death Rates by Leading Causes of Death, 2001-2020.
https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/statistics/data/10/27/117.html