Feasibility

This study collects information about perception of cure among patients with cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). This study aims to determine patients' perception (knowledge) before starting immunotherapy and if differences exist in understanding of treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the body's immune (defense) system to fight infection and disease (immunotherapy) based on social and economic factors or on race/ethnicity.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To assess the proportion of patients with metastatic cancer who anticipate cure before starting immunotherapy.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine if expectations of cure are associated with quality of life and distress.

II. To determine if patients' perceptions differ by gender, age, and ethnicity.

OUTLINE:

Patients complete surveys over 30 minutes about sociodemographic information and perception of immunotherapy, over 10 minutes about expectations of cure, over 10 minutes about anxiety, over 10 minutes about depression, and over 30 minutes about physical well-being. Patients' medical records are reviewed.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Patients must be aged 18 and over
2. Patients sufficiently fluent in English
3. Patients must have a cytologically or pathologically verified diagnosis of cancer
4. Patients must have measurable metastatic disease
5. Patients must be initiating immunotherapy
6. Patients must be undergoing evaluation and treatment at City of Hope Cancer Center

Patients with metastatic cancer