[Responsible risks in the choice of palliative chemotherapy]

The risk of tumor chemotherapy is weighed against its therapeutical potential. If there is a chance of a curative or life-prolonging treatment, the choice of a rather aggressive form of chemotherapy is justified. In the majority of patients with metastatic malignant diseases, however, life-prolongation is not achievable and the choice of a chemotherapy with life-threatening side-effects contra-indicated. Potential benefits and risk of chemotherapy are further exemplified in breast cancer.