[Frequent errors in planning and clinical management of tumor therapy]

Frequent and important errors in the management of cancer patients are reviewed. Mistakes can occur during diagnostic work-up, treatment planning, the actual treatment phase, evaluation of the response and of treatment-related side effects, the continuation or termination of a therapy, follow-up of the cancer patient and on several other occasions. Despite the fact that human knowledge and human actions are less than perfect, the knowledgeable and alert physician can avoid many errors in caring for cancer patients.