WHAT DO ADVANCED CANCER-PATIENTS KNOW OF THEIR DISEASE - A REPORT FROM ITALY

The aim of this work was to investigate the awareness of diagnosis, pr ognosis and meaning of palliative treatment in Italian patients with a dvanced, incurable cancers. A group of 100 patients, referred to a Med ical Oncology facility, were interviewed. Only 38 patients were aware of the malignant neoplastic nature of their disease. The remaining pat ients believed they had a benign neoplasia, non-neoplastic disease, or were unable to define their illness. No patient had a correct idea of the poor prognosis of the disease. Only 11.5% of 87 patients receivin g chemotherapy had a correct perception of the palliative intent of th e treatment, while most believed that the chemotherapy was ''preventiv e''. Dissatisfaction with the information received was expressed by a minority of patients. The awareness of diagnosis was better among wome n and patients with a higher educational background. Witholding the tr uth from cancer patients still seems very common in Italy.