Ambulatory Advanced Cancer Patients' and Oncologists' Estimates of Life Expectancy Are Associated with Patient Psychological Characteristics But Not Chemotherapy Use.

Background: Patients with advanced cancer often face distressing decisions about chemotherapy. There are conflicting data on the relationships among perceived prognosis, psychological characteristics, and chemotherapy use, which impair the refinement of decision support interventions.

Objective: Clarify the relationships among patient and oncologist estimates of life expectancy for 6 and 12 months, chemotherapy use, and patient psychological characteristics.