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The financial hazard of personalized medicine and supportive care

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Abstract

Personalized medicine is revolutionizing the delivery of oncological care, promising benefits both at the patient and health system levels. The cost of targeted therapies, unfortunately, is becoming more expensive and unaffordable. Where supportive care in cancer concerns the prevention and management of the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment and is the thrust of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, financing of and value in personalized medicine is an important area of research and engagement for the association. Discussing patients’ concerns with and identifying those at most risk for the financial hazard of cancer treatment and offering financial counseling and assistance and/or referral to support networks are potential key areas for (exploring and providing) better supportive care. The time is now to turn the concern of patients and their carers, providers, and other advocates regarding the affordability of cancer treatment into a collective cause towards coordinated action.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Technology and Services Research, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Pricivel M. Carrera

  2. Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia

    Ian Olver

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  1. Pricivel M. Carrera
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  2. Ian Olver
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Correspondence to Pricivel M. Carrera.

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Carrera, P.M., Olver, I. The financial hazard of personalized medicine and supportive care. Support Care Cancer 23, 3399–3401 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2922-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2922-3

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