Oncology and chemo business as a monopoly on treatment
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:00 pm
This may be a little psychological venting: Twice so far I have had to battle my oncologists for alternative treatments such as cryo or SBRT consultants. Each onc was a "chemo for life" proponent. This most recent occasion I think I bludgeon my Onc to the point where he said I will support you in whatever decision making. Prior to that he gave me crap for requesting a PET stating I didn't need it, only later to learn I had it sent to the tumor board in pulmonary who found concerns.
He later explained his position that a met elsewhere is still considered colon cancer and that they treat with colon cancer drugs.
A second opinion and research confirmed- Many oncs will allow a stage 4 patient to progress through various chemo regimens until death without even considering MWA, RFA, Cryo, SBRT of some of the other treatments. My second opinion onc states that many oncs aren't interdisciplinary and have research to support there narrow views of chemo only.
I reviewed NCCN guidelines for treatment of colon cancer only to discover the board who makes the decisions on best practices for colon patients are themselves are ALL oncologists, many list the drug companies that support them, and excludes the other cancer treating disciplines. The guideline ONLY recommend chemo! In other words, oncology as the gatekeeper of treatment recommends for the treatment of cancer only their elixirs and potions, and excludes the competition like Interventional radiologists or regular radiologists from their board. Typically this is an Antitrust issue as competition is squelched.
I go to the James which is a nationally recognized cancer institute and they have extensive treatments in other departments. It makes me nauseous to think of patients who could have benefit from a whack-a-mole approach that may be much more effective than the chemo, with a higher cumulative quality of life and just might be alive today, but passed away because of narcissistic or rigid oncologists chemo only approach. Stage 4 patients deserve a Bill of Rights where information on the various treatments, with efficacy details, are provided to them regardless if there facility can or is able to provide the service. As it is now, most patients are getting a very limited informed consent that protects the providers but not the patients. I did call my Senator and left a message and I will get the interdisciplinary treatment I want and deserve. It is just everyone else I am concerned who is not able to advocate or views their onc through rose colored glasses when it really is a case of myopia.
Can I here an Amen?
He later explained his position that a met elsewhere is still considered colon cancer and that they treat with colon cancer drugs.
A second opinion and research confirmed- Many oncs will allow a stage 4 patient to progress through various chemo regimens until death without even considering MWA, RFA, Cryo, SBRT of some of the other treatments. My second opinion onc states that many oncs aren't interdisciplinary and have research to support there narrow views of chemo only.
I reviewed NCCN guidelines for treatment of colon cancer only to discover the board who makes the decisions on best practices for colon patients are themselves are ALL oncologists, many list the drug companies that support them, and excludes the other cancer treating disciplines. The guideline ONLY recommend chemo! In other words, oncology as the gatekeeper of treatment recommends for the treatment of cancer only their elixirs and potions, and excludes the competition like Interventional radiologists or regular radiologists from their board. Typically this is an Antitrust issue as competition is squelched.
I go to the James which is a nationally recognized cancer institute and they have extensive treatments in other departments. It makes me nauseous to think of patients who could have benefit from a whack-a-mole approach that may be much more effective than the chemo, with a higher cumulative quality of life and just might be alive today, but passed away because of narcissistic or rigid oncologists chemo only approach. Stage 4 patients deserve a Bill of Rights where information on the various treatments, with efficacy details, are provided to them regardless if there facility can or is able to provide the service. As it is now, most patients are getting a very limited informed consent that protects the providers but not the patients. I did call my Senator and left a message and I will get the interdisciplinary treatment I want and deserve. It is just everyone else I am concerned who is not able to advocate or views their onc through rose colored glasses when it really is a case of myopia.
Can I here an Amen?