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