Surabhi Dangi-Garimella, PhD

During the Health Services Research and Quality of Care session on the second day of the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, being held at the McCormick Convention Center, Chicago, oncologists discussed barriers to patient participation in cancer clinical trials, and discussed attributes of the high cost of care.

On the first day of the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Robin Zon, MD, a practicing medical oncologist from Michiana Hematology Oncology, PC, discussed the struggle of physicians and the practice staff as they balance administrative burdens with clinical care.

On the first day at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, physicians introduced some of the newer agents currently available to treat lymphoma and described their experience with these agents during the session, "Incorporating Novel Agents into Lymphoma Therapy: Value in Everyday Practice."

Improved survivorship rates among cancer patients has brought a growing awareness of a serious latent impact of chemotherapy and radiation: cardiotoxicity. Despite extensive research on the subject, our understanding of the tools for identifying and preventing these complications is limited.

Risk factors associated with diabetic ketoacidosis typically do not change. Preventing DKA should focus on identification of those most at risk and educating them good self-care to avoid incidents.

Yesterday, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) lifted the embargo on nearly 5000 abstracts that will be presented at ASCO's 51st Annual Meeting to be held in Chicago, May 29-June 2. The results from a few of the studies were released via a presscast that saw participation by the chair of ASCO's clinical communications committee, the current ASCO president, and the ASCO president-elect.

A study published in JAMA Surgery compared long-term weight loss and other outcomes, along with adverse effects, of different surgical methods for weight loss.

A late afternoon session on the first day of the 2015 Community Oncology Conference was a panel discussion called, "The Pathway Conundrum: How Many Do We Need and How Restrictive?"

A general session at the Community Oncology Conference, Community Oncology 2.0, Moving Forward on Payment Reform, was a panel discussion that saw participation by 2 providers and a payer.

With the rising prices of innovative oncology treatments, many of which fall under specialty pharmaceuticals, curbing the cost of care is high on the agenda of healthcare providers.

The buzz words, wherever you turn to in healthcare today, are "value," "patient-centered," "quality." The question remains, how are these elements being incorporated in practice by the healthcare industry, and is the patient engaged in these discussions?

A study published in the journal Lancet Oncology, conducted by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, provides evidence for the value of introducing abiraterone prior to chemotherapy in these patients.