Are older French patients as willing as older American patients to undertake chemotherapy?
PURPOSE: A view often held in Europe is that older Europeans are less willing than older Americans to undertake chemotherapy. This study assesses whether this view is valid. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three-hundred twenty outpatients aged 70 years and older were interviewed via anonymous questionnaires: French patients with and without cancer and American patients with and without cancer. The response rate was 61% (195 of 320 questionnaires). Ages ranged from 70 to 95 years (29% aged 80 years and older). Two scenarios were presented: a strong chemotherapy (platinum/taxane combination-like) and a milder chemotherapy (weekly vinorelbine-like). The options were to refuse chemotherapy or to accept for a threshold chance of cure, of life prolongation, or of symptom relief. Functional status, education, self-rated health, and depression were controlled for. RESULTS: French noncancer patients (34%) were less willing to accept the strong chemotherapy than French cancer patients (77.8%), American no