Intensive care, mechanical ventilation, dialysis, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Implications for the patient with cancer.

The broad range in mortality rates seen in the critically ill cancer population reflects the fact that cancer is a heterogeneous disease, affecting a heterogeneous population at different stages of care. Patients, families, and physicians frequently agonize about the utility of CPR and ICU care and whether this care should be offered. Understanding the goals of care, respecting autonomy, and knowing the likelihood of benefits and burdens of these interventions are critical in making these difficult decisions.