Future Cancer Treatment

Already over 70% of new cancers are cured in many EU nations. Expect major progress in gene profiling of tumours, matching chemo to tumour type, stimulation of the immune system to fight your own cancer cells more effectively. Specialist centres have higher cure rates - expect further investment in cancer clinics that have the very latest facilities, higher patient numbers, greater research funding. Expect many cancer therapies to FALL in price as patents expire - leading to more generics and biosimilar drugs at as little as 5% of previous prices. However, expect latest therapies to continue to be very expensive, especially if large molecules grown / manufactured in living cells. But even here, in an average of 10 years, each of those patents will also expire. In the meantime, small things will continue to make a huge difference: whether making sure urgent referrals are properly followed up, results are not lost, patients are recalled rapidly and so on. Inneficient admin costs lives. Another example is taking time with patients to really explain what may be going to happen and what the options are - doctors can often fail even to introduce themselves properly. While cancer survival will continue to extend, we also need to constantly ask the question about the personal cost to wellbeing. It can take a lot of courage for patients and those who support them to face the truth that further active treatment should be stopped, in favour of making the best use of limited life that remains, with good symptom control and emotional as well as practical and spiritual support, enabling people to enjoy the last chapter of their life in their own home, if at all possible. Therefore we can also expect growth of hospice and end of life services in every nation.