OK, so I really try not to eavesdrop on people's conversations - despite how LOUDLY THEY ARE CONDUCTING THEIR "PRIVATE" CONVERSATION in public places.
But when someone sitting next to me starts up a conference call, (complete with powerpoint) and starts out talking about Her2+ breast cancer...well that's just too much!
That happened to me a couple of days ago. It seemed to be a group of people updating a list of cancer treatments. Maybe an HMO or insurance utilization committee - because they kept referring to "members" and costs (as in, we could add that, but it would add costs).
I felt a little bit like a spy...
It was quite interesting, and at times I was tempted to pass him a note when he was asking about "did anyone see anything at SABCS about this...?) but I resisted, and someone actually ON the call would eventually come up with the right answer. I was also impressed that they actually DID pay attention to the research.
Here's some random overheard comments from this call that gave me a slightly new perspective:
(When they did not have consensus on something) "Well, let's put it out there and see what the happens. I haven't heard much from the oncology community on this".
The implication being, for me, that it really does make a difference if oncologists are really pushing for a therapy...and we can help this process by continuing to bring up research if our home oncologist isn't a breast cancer specialist on the cutting edge. and that the combination of letters from the oncologists and copies of data could move the needle.
"Well, you know if it was my wife...I would definitely do it. But it is expensive". (This one took everything I had to keep from screaming "hey you (expletive deleted) I'm someone's wife, too!) I couldn't tell where exactly he stood on it, but it clearly made him uncomfortable
A fair bit of conversation around the issues of "what population is appropriate for a given test or treatment". I'm not sure if this made me hopeful (that they are actually paying attention to targeted info) or worried (that they were drawing lines in the sand daring anyone to think outside the thorougly studied box)
I wished I had gotten the chance to talk to this man, but they went through all the breast cancer stuff, then started moving on to other cancers...and I had to go catch my plane! Maybe next time...
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