Jeffrey A. Meyerhardt MD, MPH

Fifth Issue 2013 series: Conquering the Cancer Care Continuum

Supplements

In 2005, the Institute of Medicine released a report with a title that became a wake-up call for many in the field of oncology, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition. A committee of 17 experts in the field set out to raise awareness of the consequences of having cancer and cancer treatments, to define a standard of healthcare quality for cancer survivors, and to determine how to implement that quality and to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors. Read More ›

Hospice Care Options: A Physician’s Perspective

Third Issue 2013 series: Conquering the Cancer Care Continuum

Each year in the United States, over 1.5 million people are diagnosed with cancer and nearly 600,000 will die of cancer. While cure rates for certain cancers have increased over the decades and survival has lengthened for many incurable cancers, ultimately the vast majority of patients with metastatic disease from most solid tumors and some hematological malignancies will not survive their cancer. Read More ›

A Physician’s Perspective on Pain Management

Second Issue 2013 series: Conquering the Cancer Care Continuum

Pain management is a critical component of patient care in any medical specialty, but particularly in oncology. The 2 case presentations and discussions by Beth Faiman and Steve Stricker are common cases in which pain management is integral to the overall care of the patient. Read More ›

An increasing number of cancers are treated with self-administered oral medications either as the sole treatment or as a component of the patient’s cancer therapy. Most supportive and palliative medications (including antiemetics, pain relievers, and antidiarrheals) are oral, and proper adherence to these agents may be important in maximizing the patient’s quality of life. As healthcare providers, we may believe that given the gravity of the disease, patients will be especially compliant with their oral anticancer medications. Read More ›

In laboratory experiments, we can nearly guarantee that the intervention being tested is received, short of human error. We cannot control whether the patient arrives at the clinic, but when we prescribe medications that are given intravenously, we can very accurately record whether the medication was administered. With oral medications, however, there are many black holes both in research and clinical settings, and despite the best efforts to measure adherence, the impact of nonadherence is largely unknown. Read More ›

It is well documented that healthcare costs and spending have been growing at staggering rates. Healthcare accounts for ~17% of total gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States. In comparison, in 1960, healthcare only accounted for about 5% of GDP. Our current level of spending is nearly double the average percentage of GDP of every other country in the world. Total healthcare spending comes from many sources, including but not limited to hospital care, physician and clinical services, nursing home care, administrative costs, and prescription drugs. Read More ›