Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

What should a cure for cancer look like?

J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD
Conditions
June 23, 2019
88 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Words have meaning. And when it comes to cancer, especially advanced cancer, there aren’t many words that have more meaning than the word “cure.” It is that very word and concept that is top of mind for some of us these days.

We clinicians are guilty as charged when it comes to reluctance declaring those who have had a remarkable response to treatments for advanced cancer “cured.” Experience has taught us over decades that we have misused the word and overpromised those we cared for. Our patients and loved ones have paid a price for our over-optimism. Consequently, our culture has taught us to avoid the word, lest we be shown to have been less-than-truthful when cancer returns with a vengeance.

And yet our world is changing: we are now seeing long term responses to treatments in diseases where until recently we had little hope of such success.

Recent reports of rapidly declining mortality in melanoma, normal life spans for many people treated for previously fatal diseases like chronic myelogenous leukemia, and the potential for impressive gains in outcomes for people with lung cancer are but a few examples that suggest we are indeed in a new era for cancer treatment.

So why shouldn’t we be talking about a cure for cancer?

From my perspective, there are a couple of ways to look at this concept:

  • Our research is taking us to new understandings and treatment for several cancers. Although some of these treatments may target only a small number of patients, taken together they will make a difference in the burden and suffering from cancer. We cannot and should not ignore the fact that there are more patients surviving longer because of these new treatments, some returning to full-time employment and many returning to a meaningful quality of life that would not have been the case even a few short years ago.
  • Our past should not be a barrier to our future. We should embrace the concept of cure, always keeping it top of mind, and aiming for the greatest goals we can achieve. We should accept — as I heard the former director of the National Cancer Institute and current interim commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Ned Sharpless, say last year in an address to the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology that we need to address and embrace the “C” word — and appreciate that today it is within our reach for some, and soon hopefully many more.

Then there is a fundamental question: What really is a cure, and how could we make it happen?

To me, “cure” in its broadest sense is a complex equation consisting of education, awareness, access, timely diagnosis, best available treatment, and availability of the support to get through a cancer journey. At its core, “cure” is avoiding a preventable or premature death.

In that respect, we have been successful: a 27% decline in the rate of cancer deaths from 1991-2016 is proof positive. However, I firmly believe that if we optimized cancer care starting today, we could vastly reduce deaths from cancer, maybe even avoid hundreds of thousands of deaths by simply doing what we already know.

That may not be as provocative as “cures,” however the impact would be the same: avoiding cancer, finding it at a more treatable moment, getting the best available treatment. That’s what counts in reducing the cancer burden.

So instead of focusing on whether it’s appropriate to set audacious goals of curing cancer in a certain period of time, let’s focus on what we have accomplished, what we could accomplish, and what we will accomplish by confronting cancer in all its complexities, from prevention and early detection to treatment. Let’s make certain everyone knows what they could do to reduce their risk, and let’s make certain everyone has access to appropriate early detection that has been proven to work. Let’s make certain access to care is not an impediment but an opportunity to get care, and when that care is provided it is the best available care with the right treatments.

“Cure” may be a bridge too far for some, however, it should be a goal for all. And unless one makes big goals, we will continue to avoid big successes. The cure for cancer is, in fact, within our grasp. Let’s not ignore that opportunity to do better.

J. Leonard Lichtenfeld is deputy chief medical officer, American Cancer Society. He blogs at Dr. Len’s Cancer Blog.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com 

Prev

Why MIPS is a useless mental exercise

June 23, 2019 Kevin 1
…
Next

6 lessons this physician learned from his father

June 23, 2019 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Oncology/Hematology

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Why MIPS is a useless mental exercise
Next Post >
6 lessons this physician learned from his father

More by J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD

  • Why won’t unproven COVID treatments go away?

    J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD
  • How can we improve the quality of medications?

    J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD
  • Sunscreens: The balancing act between safety and cancer prevention

    J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD

Related Posts

  • Cancer patients who want to take unproven supplements

    Marc Braunstein, MD, PhD
  • Hormone replacement therapy is still linked to cancer

    Martha Rosenberg
  • We have a shot at preventing cervical cancer

    Lisa N. Abaid, MD, MPH
  • Obstruction of medical justice: How health care fails patients with cancer

    Miriam A. Knoll, MD
  • Despite progress in cancer care, cost and equity challenges still must be addressed

    David M. Aboulafia, MD
  • Using the Avengers to explain how cancer treatments work

    Jennifer Lycette, MD

More in Conditions

  • The endless waves of chronic illness

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Surviving and thriving after life’s most difficult moments

    Rebecca Fogg, MBA
  • The surprising power of Play-Doh in pediatric care: How it’s bringing families together

    Alexander Rakowsky, MD
  • Lazarus: the dead man brought back to life

    William Lynes, MD
  • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

    Greg Smith, MD
  • 5 essential tips to help men prevent prostate cancer

    Kevin Jones, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • Deaths of despair: an urgent call for a collective response to the crisis in U.S. life expectancy

      Mohammed Umer Waris, MD | Policy
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Surviving clinical rounds: tips and tales from a pediatric hematologist-oncologist [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The harmful effects of shaming patients for self-education

      Maryanna Barrett, MD | Physician
    • The power of self-appreciation: Why physicians need to start acknowledging their own contributions

      Wendy Schofer, MD | Physician
    • The endless waves of chronic illness

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Skydiving and surgery: How one doctor translates high-stress training to saving lives

      Alexandra Kharazi, MD | Physician
    • Telemedicine in the opioid crisis: a game-changer threatened by DEA regulations

      Julie Craig, MD | Meds

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Abortion Is Not Murder in the Eyes of the Law
  • Introducing Allergenic Foods Early Tied to a Reduction in Later Allergies
  • Isotretinoin REMS Still Needed, But Its Burden Could Be Reduced, FDA Staff Says
  • Children Do Well With Fewer Opiates After Surgery
  • High Out-of-Pocket Costs Tied to Less Follow-Up After Initial Mammography

Meeting Coverage

  • Children Do Well With Fewer Opiates After Surgery
  • Advances in Diagnosis and Management of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions
  • Orismilast Clears Skin in Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis
  • New Combinations Promising in Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma
  • No Survival Benefit With CRT Versus Chemo for Locally Advanced Endometrial Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • Deaths of despair: an urgent call for a collective response to the crisis in U.S. life expectancy

      Mohammed Umer Waris, MD | Policy
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Surviving clinical rounds: tips and tales from a pediatric hematologist-oncologist [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The harmful effects of shaming patients for self-education

      Maryanna Barrett, MD | Physician
    • The power of self-appreciation: Why physicians need to start acknowledging their own contributions

      Wendy Schofer, MD | Physician
    • The endless waves of chronic illness

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Skydiving and surgery: How one doctor translates high-stress training to saving lives

      Alexandra Kharazi, MD | Physician
    • Telemedicine in the opioid crisis: a game-changer threatened by DEA regulations

      Julie Craig, MD | Meds

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

What should a cure for cancer look like?
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...