Innovative cancer-fighting tools should be accessible to all patients, according to Doug Flora's opinion.
In the heart of Northern Kentucky, St. Elizabeth Healthcare is making strides in the battle against cancer. Dr. Douglas Flora, the Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services, is at the forefront of this crucial mission.
Cancer is a pervasive issue in Kentucky, affecting every county, neighborhood, and family dinner table. Each year, approximately 30,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the state, with lung cancer leading the charge. Tragically, unscreened cancers account for more than 70% of cancer-related deaths.
However, early detection can change everything, saving lives and sparing families years of unnecessary heartache. St. Elizabeth has made early detection a cornerstone of its mission and has invested heavily in screening and prevention, particularly in lung cancer. Through their comprehensive lung screening program, St. Elizabeth has diagnosed over 500 lung cancer patients as Stage I patients.
The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act is a significant step towards ensuring that patients have access to innovative, cancer-fighting tools. This Act aims to allow Medicare to cover FDA-approved MCED tests without bureaucratic delay.
Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests are simple blood tests that can detect dozens of cancers in earlier, more treatable stages. The passage of the MCED Act is crucial to make these tests accessible to all, including seniors who face the highest cancer risk.
Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) chairs a key House committee with jurisdiction over the MCED Act and has been instrumental in its progress. Along with Congressman Andy Barr, he is one of the two congressional representatives from Kentucky currently supporting the Act. The MCED Act has earned bipartisan majority support in the U.S. House and Senate, making it the first and only healthcare bill to do so.
As an oncologist, Dr. Flora has had numerous conversations with patients hearing the diagnosis of late-stage cancer for the first time. He emphasises the importance of early detection, stating that "early detection can mean the difference between a curable disease and a terminal one."
St. Elizabeth is on the edge of a new frontier in early cancer detection, which could transform how many types of cancer are diagnosed and treated. The fight against cancer is a collective effort, and St. Elizabeth is committed to leading the charge in Kentucky.
