John C. Grecula, MD, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, discusses the evolution of precision delivery of radiation for patients with small cell lung cancer and advances that include prophylactic cranial radiotherapy, thoracic radiotherapy, and the use of PET-CT.
Mary Lou Smith, JD, MBA, of the Research Advocacy Network, discusses, from the perspective of a patient advocate, the value of the NCCN guidelines and the impact they have made on cancer care.
Amy Cyr, MD, of the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, discusses advances made in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer: less radiation and a shorter course, the rising use of molecular profiling, and less invasive surgery and reduced amounts of surgery.
Ingrid A. Mayer, MD, of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, discusses the evolution of endocrine therapy for metastatic breast cancer.
Samuel M. Silver, MD, PhD, of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Al B. Benson III, MD, FACP, FASCO, of Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, discuss the evolution of NCCN Guidelines, which are available free online, and the components that make them effective: a multidisciplinary approach, the participation of patient advocates, consistency, and affordability of the evidence.
Clifford Goodman, PhD, of the The Lewin Group, and Peter B. Bach, MD, MAPP, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discuss the affordability of cancer care, the “financial toxicities” of high drug prices, and what could and should be done about it.
