Decisions on Prescribing Cancer Drugs

Newmedications offer promise to millions of Americans diagnosed with cancer each year. Yet many of thesenew drugs are expensive; a single medication regimen can cost upwards of $50,000per person per year on top of other medical expenses. Our society is strugglingto find ways to target resources for such technologies. Peter A. Ubel,MD,and colleague Peter J. Neumann, MD (Tufts Medical Center) have been funded by theCalifornia Health Care Foundation to conduct a national survey of oncologistsabout new cancer therapies. Assisting with the project is CBSSM research staffmember Julie Tobi.