The Cancer Advisor

The moment she heard that her mother, then 67, had advanced breast cancer, Stacie Dusetzina began hunting for potential treatments. A cancer policy researcher at Vanderbilt University, Dusetzina knew the go-to drug in many cases was Pfizer Inc.’s Ibrance. She learned it might cost her mother, who lived on a fixed income, around $10,000 out of pocket annually. Medicare, required by law to cover cancer treatment, would have paid much of the rest of the cost. At the time, in 2020, the pill listed for a jaw-dropping $160,000 a year, rising more recently to $214,000. Despite having a PhD in pharmaceutical science, Dusetzina couldn’t figure out whether swallowing those costs — potentially for years — would help her mom live any longer or any better. Her research showed that while the drug might shrink tumors, no clinical trials proved it would extend her mother’s life. At the time of her search, Ibrance had already been on the market for five years. “I could not find any satisfactory data wh...

Facing a cancer diagnosis can feel like navigating an endless maze with no clear direction. The overwhelming emotions and confusion that accompany such news are shared by many. While conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy have a role to play, there’s a growing interest in alternative therapies that can complement or even replace traditional methods. Did you know that many alternative cancer treatments have been explored, offering new hope to those affected by cancer? The use of complementary and alternative medicine is becoming more prevalent as patients seek options beyond conventional medical treatments. Alternative medicine includes therapies used outside of standard medical practices, offering different approaches to treat cancer. Integrative medicine combines both conventional and alternative treatments, aiming to improve outcomes and enhance quality of life. Diverse cancer hallmarks targeted by repurposed non-oncology drugs. This figure was created...