Cancer treatments must now go beyond the usual concerns of patients who grapple with their high costs in favor of improving quality of life, according to an oncologist.
Doctor Frederic Ting, an internal medicine specialist, argued that new forms of cancer treatment are designed to lessen the amount of time needed for any patient.
“We know that cancer treatment is costly…and this is to our advantage. We’re now treating patients and not only making them live longer but better lives by improving their quality of life,” Ting explained.
He mentioned how the use of subcutaneous injections for breast cancer treatment has significantly decreased the time for medications compared to the usual chemotherapy.
“The direct cost varies, but the financial price is competitive to the IV (treatment). It’s accessible as long as there is an oncologist who plugs the treatment for you,” Ting explained, citing experiences with his patients.
Because of this, he said that health technology systems must utilize a framework to help dissect how cancer should be addressed at a productive pace.
“There are other areas of health care, when you look at it from the perspective of the clinician…if there are innovative options that can shorten treatment time, more patients can be served and treated,” Ting said in mixed Filipino and English while discussing the BRAVER framework.
The said framework encourages examining how accessible these treatments are under the current healthcare conditions for the indigent, especially those in the informal sector.
While alternative medicines remain an avenue for cheaper solutions in curing cancer, the doctor believes that this practice remains concerning due to its adverse effects.
“Taking alternative medicine significantly decreases (the chances of) survival. We are trying to really reach out to far-flung areas so that they can be educated well,” Ting said, adding that this must only be complementary under the advice of an oncologist.
