The cancer moonshot initiative raised skepticism because of the limited funding to end cancer. Unfortunately the recently announced panel membership confirms that while the project may launch, skewed representation may tilt the mission off course.
It is no surprise that the panel heavily tilts toward immunology, medical oncology, surgery and big science. But three core specialties you would find at any tumor board are missing: pathology, radiology, and radiation oncology. Pathologists are “the doctor’s doctor,” applying basic science to clinical medicine to establish the vast majority of cancer diagnoses. Radiologists provide images to help us establish cancer stage, interpret treatment effectiveness, and can use interventional approaches of minimally invasive therapy. Radiation oncologists treat over 50 percent of all cancer patients at some point during the cancer experience in the U.S., with increasingly targeted ways to cure and alleviate suffering. All could play key roles in ensuring targeted immunotherapy research is on the right course.
Any community cancer program, such as mine, would be deficient if these cancer specialists didn’t show up. Why should we feel differently in this case? Were these specialties excluded accidentally? I’m sure there are some excellent people in these fields to provide balance to the panel.
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
No comments:
Post a Comment