Half of patients with cancer say they have never heard of advance care planning despite their many interactions with the healthcare system, a national survey shows. 

The findings also indicate that most patients rely on discussions with family and friends about their values and preferences if they were to become seriously ill rather than with their doctor. 

Researchers from Advance Care Planning Australia at Austin Health in Melbourne carried out an online survey of 440 adult patients with a current or previous cancer diagnosis and 265 family or friends acting as a “support person” to cancer patients. 

The most common diagnoses reported in the November 2019 survey were prostate cancer (25%), breast cancer (18%) and skin cancer (12%), with one-quarter of participants having been referred to palliative care.