American Society Of Clinical Oncology To Issue Guidelines On How Physicians Should Discuss Cost Of Treatment Options With Patients

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice;  Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 26 Mar 2008 - 12:00 PDT

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The American Society of Clinical Oncology later this year will release the first-ever guidelines for how oncologists can discuss cost-effective options for cancer treatment with their patients, AP/Long Island Newsday reports.

According to AP/Newsday, "Cancer sticker shock is hitting hard now" as cancer drugs that cost $100,000 are "no longer a rarity" and patients are living longer, requiring extended treatment periods. In addition, the cost of treating cancer is rising by 15% annually, according to Allen Lichter of ASCO. Affordable treatment options are a "particular issue" for patients with incurable forms of cancer who are looking for "both the longest possible survival and the best quality of life," AP/Newsday reports.

According to AP/Newsday, one of ASCO's suggestions will be for oncologists to consider the cost "essentially as another side effect" when choosing a treatment. In addition, Leonard Saltz of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and other physicians at a meeting of the National Comprehensive Care Network advised ASCO to include chemotherapy costs in the treatment guidelines. According to Saltz, many physicians do not know the cost of certain treatments because they are not included in treatment standards. "If there's a need to spend it, let's talk about it," Saltz said, adding, "If we can do it just as well less expensively, I think doctors should know that and be able to make a decision" (Neergaard, AP/Long Island Newsday, 3/24).

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