| According to the American Cancer Society, | | | | chemotherapy and biologic therapies. New |
| nearly 1.4 million people were diagnosed with | | | | treatments, such as hormone therapies with |
| cancer in 2005. The victims are fairly evenly | | | | Tamoxifen and transplant options involving |
| divided, with males having a slight lead at | | | | bone marrow, are being added to these |
| 51 percent. The causes are seemingly too | | | | standard procedures on a regular basis. |
| complicated to unravel. The effects are | | | | |
| unfortunately too obvious. | | | | This widespread availability of cancer |
| | | | experimentation and treatment options causes |
| The rise in cancer patients, combined with | | | | confusion not only among the lay community, |
| new access to medical research and | | | | but among physicians and payers as well. |
| technology, enable cancer victims to take | | | | Every day, new options appear on the horizon |
| self-education to new heights. Through their | | | | that show promise, but only a few become |
| efforts, patients are often confused by the | | | | treatment protocols. As the literature about |
| nuances between protocols for scientific | | | | cancer research and treatment burgeons, it's |
| experiments and the medically accepted | | | | increasingly difficult for anyone but an |
| protocols for treatment. While the two sound | | | | Oncology specialist to stay current with |
| the same, they serve different ends. | | | | which treatments are sanctioned and which are |
| Experimental protocols are simply mechanisms | | | | still considered experimental. |
| for following scientific research that can be | | | | |
| replicated and compared against an already | | | | Having access to Board-Certified Oncologists |
| standardized treatment to prove validity. | | | | and Hematologists as part of the independent |
| This process may require several experiments | | | | review process can help payers ensure |
| and studies before treatment is sanctioned as | | | | patients receive the best medical care |
| a proven method that can be used on patients. | | | | possible as approved by their contracts. |
| Typically, insurance payers will not begin to | | | | AllMed Healthcare Management's panel of |
| pay for treatment until protocols have | | | | Oncology and Hematology specialists know the |
| reached the medically proven stage. | | | | latest cancer treatment options and can help |
| | | | you, the payer, stay abreast of these |
| The four major types of cancer treatments | | | | advancements-now and in the future. |
| available today include surgery, radiation, | | | | |