Is extending life by weeks worth the toll some cancer drugs take? Doctors push for 'common-sense oncology'

The art of cancer care balances hope and reality, says a Canadian oncologist helping to start a movement that aims to encourage honest conversations about end-of-life care. When a treatment buys a few weeks or months but comes with with a lot of side-effects, then the perspectives of people with cancer may differ, says Dr. Christopher Booth. Tom Somerville's decision stop medical treatment for his end-stage cancer was a personal one.

Somerville, 62, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021 that later spread to his liver. He had six months of chemotherapy to slow down the cancer, which he said also left him exhausted with nausea. The Kingston, Ont., resident decided to take a break from treatment to enjoy a trip with his wife to Victoria. "Things that you cherish change, right?" Somerville said. "I used to love being out in the bush, but now it is just nice to have a sunny day, sit with my family have visitors

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