William Sikov, MD, FACP, of the Breast Health Center at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, a Care New England hospital, recently moderated a panel discussion entitled “Cost-Effective Care of the Breast Cancer Patient: How the Disciplines Can Work Together to Reduce Unnecessary Evaluations and Interventions while Preserving Quality” as part of the 26th Annual Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Conference sponsored by the National Consortium of Breast Centers.
Dr. Sikov led a panel comprised of experts in the fields of breast imaging, surgery, radiation oncology and medical oncology that reviewed recent advances in the evaluation and treatment of patients with breast cancer that have improved patient outcomes while avoiding unnecessary tests and treatments.
“As we learn more about the biology of breast cancer and how that determines its behavior, we are better able to target our treatments – not just systemic therapies like chemotherapy, but surgery and radiation as well – to those patients who are most likely to benefit from them,” he said. “This can spare other patients the side effects, inconvenience and expense of receiving ineffective treatment and allows their doctors to focus on determining what is most likely to help them, while reducing unnecessary costs to the health care system.”
The panel also discussed how progress in one area can help other specialties deliver superior care while limiting side effects, inconvenience and cost for patients, and what discoveries in the near future may further the provision of both high quality and cost-effective breast cancer care.
Women interested in making an appointment with Dr. Sikov or other providers with the Breast Health Center at Women & Infants can call (401) 453-7520.
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