A review of new chemotherapy drugs approved over more than a decade finds the average overall survival benefit is only 2.1 months. Despite being labeled 'game changers,' most cancer drugs deliver modest or no clinically meaningful benefit — yet many remain on the market even when post-approval studies show no advantage over placebo. Worse, surveys reveal that about three-quarters of patients with metastatic lung or colorectal cancer mistakenly believed their chemotherapy could cure them. This gap between patient expectations and reality undermines informed consent, leaving patients unable to weigh real risks against real benefits and make choices aligned with their personal values and quality of life.
