[Education of cancer patients]

Increasing patients' information is currently evolving toward real education, mainly concerning chronic diseases. Cancer patients could also benefit from this evolution of medical care. Rationale for such education certainly includes theoretical endpoints (patient's autonomy) but also practical considerations that will improve treatment quality (compliance), tolerance and further rehabilitation. Many patients may benefit from this education during complex and long-term treatments. Furthermore, sequelae and handicaps will be either reduced or better tolerated. This education is provided by practitioners and other care-providers. That implies improved specific training and further need for written and video-taped documents. Such an evolution should further lead to proper evaluation and cost-benefit analyses in order to ensure real improvement of both treatment quality and patient's experience.