By J. Thaddeus Beck, MD, FACP

The question I hear most often after a patient is diagnosed with cancer is, “What’s the best treatment for me?” And while it is an important question to ask, after more than three decades of caring for patients with cancer, I’ve learned that it doesn’t always consider the full picture. 

Because the truth is, medicine is changing. Today, there are more ways to deliver cancer treatment to patients. Some treatments are given by pill, while others are given through infusion or with a subcutaneous injection under the skin. That means patients have more options than before—not just in the treatments themselves, but in how, when and where they can receive their care.   

For example, certain therapies, including those given by subcutaneous injection, may provide flexibility in dosing options and make it possible for certain patients to receive care in a variety of health care settings—such as at a doctor’s office or community-based care center—in addition to hospitals and infusion clinics.  

When we consider the time it can take for patients to travel to hospitals and infusion clinics, the flexibility of these additional treatment settings can make a real difference in a person’s day.  

With more choices available, patients may be able to personalize their treatment approach based on their specific lifestyle needs, so they can focus on other things that matter to them.  

In any conversation I have with a patient, I encourage them to ask these questions of their care team: 

How is this treatment given?  

Treatments are given by a health care provider in different ways and can vary in what they require of you.  

How often will I need to receive treatment?  

Understanding the cadence of your treatment schedule—daily, weekly, every few weeks—can help you plan ahead, whether that means arranging a ride or planning time off work. If applicable, ask what a typical treatment day will be like for you, from the moment you arrive to the time you walk out the door. The goal is for treatment to work with your life, not against it. 

How can treatment fit into the parts of life that matter most to me?  

What matters most to you outside of treatment is worth sharing with your care team. Ask your doctor how your treatment approach leaves room for these priorities, and plan to revisit the conversation, as things change.  

When you sit down with your care team, don’t stop at the question, “What’s the best treatment for me?” Ask what treatment approach can work for your days, your time and the moments that are most important to you.  

To learn more about flexibility in cancer care and available options, read here. 

J. THADDEUS BECK, MD, FACP, is a founding physician and Medical Director of Highlands Oncology, where he has played a significant role in the growth and development of one of the country’s leading community-based oncology programs.

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