Survey: Cancer Patients in Dark — Many Didn’t Know Stage of Their Disease

By Mary Powers powers@commercialappealcom

A survey of Mid-South cancer patients found few knew the stage of their disease, even though that is a key indicator of whether a cure is likely.

Just 23 percent of the 284 patients surveyed answered correctly when asked if their cancer was stage 1, 2, 3 or 4.

“Stage denotes how advanced the disease is. It gives us a picture of the prognosis,” explained Dr. Joseph Santoso, a Memphis oncologist and lead investigator of the study published in a recent issue of The Cancer Journal. The higher the number, the more advanced the disease.

It is information that helps patients and families understand their situation. Patient understanding is also associated with better care, said Santoso, a University of Tennessee associate professor.

The 2001 survey found that men, particularly older men, were the least likely to know the stage of their disease. Higher-income patients were more likely than their less wealthy counterparts to answer correctly. Half the patients were older than age 62.

More than 90 percent of those surveyed knew the name of their doctor as well as the type and location of their cancer. Nearly all reported their doctor spent enough time with them and a majority indicated they had good support from family and friends. Yet nearly 2 percent didn’t realize they had cancer, even though patients completed the written surveys while undergoing chemotherapy.

The study highlights continuing gaps in doctor-patient communication. “We have the tendency to give them so much information, I see many patients get overwhelmed,” Santoso said. He tells young doctors to pay close attention to a patient’s face. It often signals whether he or she understands.

Santoso is trying to incorporate the findings into his own practice. “Now I tend to write things down and give patients a copy,” he explained.

– Mary Powers: 529-2383

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What Every Cancer Patient Should Know

Type of cancer

Primary location

Doctor’s name

Stage of disease on a 1-to-4 scale

Whether their disease is stable, or is getting better or worse

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