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4th July 2008
Independent sector provision of radiotherapy
Article by Sarah Hynd and Karol Sikora from 'Imaging & Oncology, 2008'
In over a century of using radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer, there has been amazing evolution in its use, with tremendous change, too, in the interlinking disciplines of physics, imaging, dosimetry, delivery of treatment, and computerisation.
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16th June 2008
Cutting-edge cancer services launched under new partnership between CancerPartners UK and Spire Healthcare
CancerPartners UK and leading private hospital provider Spire Healthcare this week announced a partnership that will see the organisation provide cutting edge cancer treatments on three Spire hospital sites - the first private radiotherapy services outside London.
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'Focus on oncology: Cancer drugs - the economic challenge'
Karol Sikora assesses to what extent health technology assessments, the ageing population
and societal changes will influence the future of cancer care
Cancer care costs are spiralling out of control in every healthcare environment. Ageing populations are ‘consuming’ healthcare in vastly increasing quantities. And new technology – drugs, devices and procedures – is increasing the cost of care. At the same time, top-up payments are increasingly used to break treatment-access barriers. In such an environment, cancer patients are beginning to become very sophisticated consumers of clinical services. How much we are willing to pay for an extra year of good quality life is a key consideration for cancer patients of the baby boomer generation. For healthcare providers, the question is "how should people be asked to contribute to their care in an equitable way?"
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'We must focus on the customer to revolutionise cancer care'
Article by Professor Karol Sikora
(extracts published in the Sunday Telegraph, 2nd December 2007)
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The Cancer Reform Strategy challenges, choices and opportunities.
Since the introduction of the NHS Cancer Plan (2000) much has been achieved in cancer care; Cancer mortality is falling by approximately 2% per annum in people under the age of 75, survival rates continue to improve and significant improvements have been made in peoples’ experience of cancer care. However, significant challenges remain and are the focus of the emergent Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS). Due for publication Autumn 2007 the CRF addresses the ongoing challenges and opportunities within cancer care, these include the rising incidence of cancer, rising expectations of public and patients, impact of new technologies upon diagnosis and treatment and financial constraints. Within these key areas the themes of choice, equity, value for money and the delivery of holistic services underpin the reforms. Having had the opportunity to participate work streams from both chemotherapy and nursing perspectives, it is clear that the face of cancer care is set to change both in the nature of service configuration and the nature of care delivery.
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Personalised medicine for cancer: from molecular signature to therapeutic choice.
Article by Professor Karol Sikora
In the field of cancer medicine, great strides have been made in understanding the fundamental biology of cancers and impressive treatments have emerged resulting in markedly prolonged survival for many patients. These advances mean that cancer could well become a chronic disease within the next 20 years, but that promise depends on sustained investment in innovation in both diagnostics and therapies as well as society's willingness to pay for both.
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Cancer. The Next Ten Years.
Article by Professor Karol Sikora
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