Willingness To Bear Adversity And Beliefs About The Curability Of Advanced Cancer.

20Background: Older patients with advanced cancer who are certain that they could be cured pose unique challenges for physicians who wish to help them prepare for death. By estimating the prevalence of absolute certainty about curability (ACC) and examining its correlates we aim to inform the development of interventions to improve end of life care. We hypothesized that patients who report greater willingness to bear adversity in exchange for longevity will be more likely to demonstrate ACC. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of a nationwide geriatric assessment trial. Patients were asked: “What are the chances the cancer will go away and never come back with treatment [100% (ACC), u003e 50%, 50/50, u003c 50%, 0%, or unclear].” We assessed willingness to bear adversity using two types of trade-off questions. For trade-offs between treatment-related adverse reactions and survival, five statements on specific adverse reactions (nausea/vomiting, assistance with activities, bedbound state, confusion, worseni...