Tip of the Iceberg
I think the lack of attention is due to lack of coordination of care, with oncs focused on the initial attack and then monitoring for recurrence and paying almost zero attention to the complications of treatment over time. No one sets any standards for them to have to pay any attention, and certainly the idea that there are reasons NOT to use toxic agents they would like to use is hardly a positive endorsement of those agents that they like to hear.
Cardiac is just the tip of the iceberg. As an example, why is no effort made with EVERY procedure a patient has to then document the amount of radiation received, so that as a time goes by the patient and EVERY doctor they see is aware of the increasing total and can make a more accurate decision in balancing the need to use more radiation with consideration of other lab testing?
These issues do contribute to mortality, which then is not acknowledged as being cancer-treatment-caused in statistics.
AlaskaAngel
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