This episode features Dr. Kevin Tulipana, President and CEO at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Here, he discusses good and bad news surrounding oncology, the status & high costs of new cancer treatments, the big strides made in specific types of cancer research, and more.
Summary
Dr. Kevin Tulipana Talks about the Good and Bad News in Oncology Care
Status of New Cancer Treatments
Dr. Kevin Tulipana, President and CEO at Cancer Treatment Centers of America discusses the good and bad news surrounding oncology. The bad news is that people are postponing screenings resulting in late-stage malignancies and an increase in colorectal cancer in young individuals. But, the good news is that there has been a significant decrease in mortality rates due to immunotherapies and other targeted treatments. These treatments come at a significant cost, but there are early trials underway to make them more accessible.
Big Strides Made in Specific Types of Cancer Research
Dr. Tulipana highlights that there has been significant progress in reducing mortality rates for lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer in the last 10 years. However, brain cancer and pancreatic cancer are still very difficult to treat and have not seen as much progress. Immunotherapies and targeted therapies have been instrumental in improving outcomes for lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. Early detection studies for lung cancer can catch tumors before they become too large and difficult to treat. Education on lifestyle modifications can help reduce the risk of developing certain cancers.
Data from Larger and More Unified Delivery of Oncology Care
Dr. Tulipana also highlights that data from larger and more unified delivery of oncology care can be used to identify patterns that may lead to earlier detection. Studies are being conducted to detect DNA fragments from tumor cells circulating in the body which may provide an early warning system for cancer.
The Future of Oncology
Dr. Tulipana is excited about the future of oncology care, where it will be possible to identify early tumors before they are visible on imaging. However, the challenge is pinpointing the specific area where it is causing a problem in the individual. Dr. Tulipana believes that with the rapid advancements in technology, this will be possible.
Note: This is an AI generated transcript, not edited by a staff writer and is solely intended for educational purposes. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to podcasts@beckershealthcare.com
This episode aired on 10/27/2022 and can be listened here.
Subscribe to Beckers Healthcare Podcast here.