Research advancements related to usage of radiation oncology in breast cancer and emphasis on quality care along with support from governments are expected to bring significant transformation in theoncology information management system(OIMS) industry.
Oncology information systems have always improved the quality of care and outcomes of oncology treatments. The leading organizations of the oncology professionals have recently urged governments to improve cancer care. TheAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)and theEuropean Society for Medical Oncology(ESMO) have released a joint statement urging governments to enhance cancer services along with reducing deaths due to cancer. The findings by theWorld Health Organization(WHO) stated that 1.9 million people lose their lives from cancer every year in Europe. The statement outlined that oncologists have been working hard to make sure patients receive the best care and are expanding their knowledge regarding how to treat it. They believe that curing some of the cancers is possible with early intervention.
“However, in many countries access to even the most inexpensive essential cancer medicines and priority medical devices is lacking,” saidAlexandru Eniu， ESMO全球政策委员会主席。“我们迫切需要政府与我们合作，确保我们有足够的肿瘤专业人员和必要的资源，应用我们的知识，拯救生命。”
Reports of the United Nations (UN) and WHO highlighted that each country needs to improve their actions and investments to reduce death from cancer. The implementation of cost-effective ways to improve care and provide expertise in cancer management would enable a reduction in deaths.
Alternative Payment Models
In another attempt to improve care for patients, radiation oncologists emphasized the use of alternative payment models (APM). They met with Congress at Capitol Hill to discuss policies regarding access to high-quality care for patients with cancer and how APMs would be beneficial. They also emphasized providing support to research and development activities with continuous funding and protecting medical access to radioactive materials. As part of theAmerican Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Advocacy Day, the team of radiation oncologists met Congress members to gain their support and participation in the transition to value-based healthcare across the nation.
ASTRO与医疗保险和医疗补助创新中心(CMS)合作，开发和推出了放射肿瘤替代支付模式(RO-APM)。它有助于加速从数量到价值的转变，并包括将APMs作为医疗保险报销手段的利用。RO-APM涉及奖励遵守临床指南的癌症，包括乳腺癌、结直肠癌、肺癌、前列腺癌和头颈癌。此外，它还确保了放射肿瘤学家的公平和可预测的报酬，为提供高质量护理和患者获得最佳结果的癌症治疗提供奖励。
Brian Kavanagh, M.D., MPH, FASTRO, chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors, said in a statement, “Congress must prevent any additional payment cuts to radiation therapy centers to avoid jeopardizing access to critical, life-saving services and compromising our progress toward value-based care.” The value-based care would improve outcomes and oncology information systems would play a crucial part. The oncology information system market would grow significantly, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5 percent from 2016 to 2022, according to the research firm Allied Market Research.1
Hypofractionated Whole Breast Irradiation
随着RO-APM模型的发展，ASTRO推荐对乳腺癌患者进行低分割全乳照射(HF-WBI)，不限制患者的年龄、肿瘤的分期和既往的化疗。新的指南鼓励患者在HF-WBI的选择中发挥更大的作用。根据之前的指南，HF-WBI仅限于50岁以上T1-2 N0疾病的女性。然而，新的指南使HF-WBI适用于所有患者，无论其激素受体(HR)状态、肿瘤分级和HER2状态如何。
“The evidence base has matured since our last guideline, so this new guideline is more expansive in the types of patient for whom it endorses the use of hypofractionated whole breast radiation,”Benjamin Smith, M.D., co-chair of the guideline task force and an associate professor of radiation oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, toldOncLive, an online oncology resource.2
The results from various trials have shown that the outcomes from HF-WBI are similar to conventional fractionation (CF) WBI. The usage of WBI for a broader patient population has been approved, and it will be used for patients of breast cancer regardless of age, tumor stage and previous treatments. There will be decisions taken from a collaboration between oncologists and patients. Oncologists also believe that the best decisions are made from the context of shared decisions.
There have been significant advancements in radiation oncology for the treatment of patients with breast cancer.Naamit K. Gerber, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, explored those advancements in her recent interview withOncLive.3The launch of deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique has been vital for restraining the heart dose. DIBH shifts the heart away from the left breast or chest wall. Patients are asked to take deep breaths that inflate the lungs and create distance between the left breast and the heart. Radiologists then target the left breast and restrain the cardiac dose. Gerber outlined that patients who have early-stage breast cancer and patients who want to treat their lymph nodes will benefit from this technique. She also outlined that this technique has been implemented throughout the nation. Though there are many techniques available, a simple technique such as DIBH is tremendously useful and offers quality patient care.
Pratik Kirve is a writer and blogger. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and telecommunication engineering and currently workingas a content writer at Allied AnalyticsLLP. He has avid interest in writing news articles across different verticals.
References
1. Oncology Information System Market Report, Allied Market Research.https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/oncology-information-system-market. Accessed Sept 4, 2018.
2.www.onclive.com/publications/oncology-live/2018/vol-19-no-13/astro-guidelines-support-accelerated-whole-breast-radiation-for-most-patients. Accessed Sept 4, 2018.
3.www.onclive.com/onclive-tv/dr-gerber-on-advances-in-radiation-oncology-in-breast-cancer. Accessed Sept 4, 2018.
August 10, 2022
