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It is a terrible injustice how one group of potentially biased researchers can publish findings on a therapy that they are not even proficient at by selecting to focus on a fraction of one single measurement parameter and then reporting it out like it is meaningful, or even worse, like it is the ultimate verification of the efficacy of that modality. Worse than that the potentially biased media picks up the press-release of study then publishes it without any further research; while often making up their own biased head-lines in order to strike another unfair blow against a modality that they too have a minimal understanding of. If somebody wants to do a fair comparison of protons versus photons; they would be best served by bringing out the entire therapeutic picture, which includes but is not limited to; dose-escalation, dose-response, control rates, immobilization techniques, control rates, toxicity and survival. Quality of life measurements should go beyond a year; reporting on anything less seems highly suspicious. Mr. Valencia, I think your attack on this one article is unfortunate. I believe the facts are quite clear when speaking to centers about how they make their decisions as to which imaging modalities, surgical applications and in this case radiation therapy offerings frequently they decide on early science and high reimbursement.
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Wayne Webster
Misplaced attention on Prostate Cancer
January 02, 2013 10:52
I agree with Dr. Yu as to our focus on small improvements with PRT as compared to IMRT. Not unlike Neutron therapy of the 1980s we are focused on a cancer that is already treated reasonably well with IMRT.
Protons have some very interesting characteristics and should be studied and examined carefully. These centers are not inexpensive and if we do not try our best to justify their existence and use at these high reimbursement levels they will be some of the first big cuts when Obamacare is fully enacted. We either police ourselves or the Government will do it for us. These centers could be easily dealt a death blow with legislation as far sweeping as the Stark Law.
Let's face it when you speak with someone planning a PRT center they speak of the potential improvements in care and in revenue production almost hand-in-hand. This is a recipe for disaster in a time when reimbursement and the quality/effectiveness of the clinical service will be closely scrutinized by non clinicians employed by the Government.
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