League against cancer study: half of radiotherapy patients were not consulted about their treatment

Indisputable medical advances, but progress to be made on a human level. Half of cancer patients (50.6%) say they have not been consulted regarding their radiotherapy treatment, one of the most used methods to treat this disease, according to a study conducted by the League Against Cancer to be published Monday September 14 and to which franceinfo had exclusive access.

Although there has been progress in recent years, "we must work on this point, so that consent and acceptance of treatment are effective", argues Catherine Simonin, president of the society and health policy commission within the association. “A patient who accepts treatment will adhere much more closely to care,” she notes.

Among the 3,669 patients questioned, more than a quarter (28.5%) assured that their consent was not requested. All with significant gender inequalities, since 37.3% of women share this observation compared to 17.1% of men, and 64% of them declare that their opinion on their treatment was not asked of them (compared to 33% of men). “There is a real inequality between women and men, with women being, throughout the entire care process, much less well taken care of,” criticizes Catherine Simonin. “We must also demand equity in all care centers.”

A lack of information on side effects

“These results reflect significant limits in the system's capacity to involve sick people in therapeutic decisions,” points out the League Against Cancer. These figures also show "that the quality of the care relationship is not based solely on a formal act", which is the transmission of information from the medical team to the patient, "but also on the possibility given to sick people to express their preferences, their expectations and their questions, and thus recognize them as full participants in the care process".

In its report, the League against Cancer also deplores that 27% of those questioned were not informed of possible side effects, as well as the risks involved in radiotherapy. And this, while 88% of patients report having experienced at least one adverse effect during their treatment (fatigue, burns, digestive disorders, oral and dental problems, etc.).

More than a third of patients did not benefit from supportive care (to help better manage pain, find a suitable diet, psychologically support the patient in their social, family and professional life). Finally, nearly one in five people (24.4%) say they have remained without information about post-treatment, even though adverse effects may persist. This is also the case for 83% of those questioned, despite the end of the shelves.