#LCSM Chat 4/23 8PM ET: Discussing the Role of the Cost of Cancer Therapies. Does Cost Limit Care?

Written by #LCSM Moderator Dr. H. Jack West Earlier this week, I met a young women newly confronted with the terribly difficult news of a diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. As we discussed the potential of finding a targeted mutation that could be treated by an oral targeted therapy, I mentioned that it typically takes several days to a couple of weeks to get approval and delivery of one of these agents, since they cost anywhere from $7,000 to $15,000 per month in the US.  Though I reassured her that this treatment… Read More

#LCSM Chat Topic 4/9 5pm PT: Shared decision making (#sdm) for #lungcancer screening with #LDCT: What is the best approach?

On February 5, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final national coverage determination that provides Medicare coverage of screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) for high risk patients. CMS will cover lung cancer screening with LDCT once per year for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who meet certain criteria. In order for CMS to pay for LDCT lung cancer screening, the patient and their health care provider (HCP) must engage in “shared decision making” before the screening–CMS requires them to discuss risks and benefits… Read More

#LCSM Chat Topic 3/26: The Landscape of the #LungCancer World After Opdivo–Where We Are, Where We’re Going

Post by #LCSM Moderator Dr. H. Jack West: Earlier this month, the FDA made quick work of the application that Bristol-Myers-Squibb had just completed for Opdivo (nivolumab) for patients with squamous cell NSCLC that has previously been treated with standard chemotherapy.  This was a very rapid decision, which highlighted the improvement in median overall survival from 6 to 9.2 months. So where are we now? What are the implications of the approval, both in terms of future approvals and the current treatment options for patients? Will Opdivo be the default best treatment… Read More