Aggressive vs nonaggressive therapy for metastatic NSCLC.

Clinicians tend to underestimate potential modest benefits of chemotherapy. They are often reluctant to refer patients for chemotherapy, perhaps because they expect the side effects to outweigh any perceived benefits. However, patients are much more ready to accept chemotherapy, even when the likely benefits are small. Quality of life, change in performance status, and relief of tumor-related symptoms are important additional parameters of treatment assessment. Taking account of these other factors will help clinicians balance quality and quantity of life in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.