🎙️ Check out our unedited Best Of #ASTRO2025 podcast!
Full disclosure: I misspoke near the end re: maintaining systemic therapy in oligometastatic breast cancer.
EXTEND (breast cohort) was negative for PFS and time to next systemic therapy (p = 0.80).
🧵👇
Hoping these guidelines on how to approach empiric SBRT for radiographic lung cancer diagnoses can help many a community rad onc out there (me included)!
https://t.co/5gjqwVIRMF
@SprakerMDPhD Ditto!! It eloquently put into words so many of my daily musings. A humbling reminder that many good outcomes are often preordained independent of my painstaking “dose-painting”…
ACRO at large is an incredible resource for practicing rads oncs, and @cjahraus is a phenomenal choice for president-elect when the time comes to cast your ballot next week. He has both the know-how and drive we need at the top to ensure our value is recognized where it matters!
Voting for ACRO officers starts in just over one week…here is my vision for leading ACRO…
Growing up in a family of seven, I learned at an early age that it is only by speaking-up that we get our needs met. I am fortunate to have a voice that is easily heard, and today, I am asking that you let me use my voice to lead ACRO and thereby ensure that your voice is heard.
Enthusiastic advocacy for our field, and for us as radiation oncologists has characterized my record. As vice-chair of the GREC, I have used my voice to explain the value of radiation oncology in the halls of government in Washington. As ACRO's advisor to the AMA Relative Value Update Committee (RUC), I have clearly articulated the efforts we make and the value we bring, thereby helping ensure our coding and reimbursement is appropriate. As deputy-editor of ACRO's new journal, CURiE, I have fostered compelling publications that speak to the need for fairness in reimbursement. As chair of the ACROPath project, I have endeavored to design a resource clinicians can use to defend a range of appropriate, data-backed care pathways, and not just those deemed desirable by insurers and benefit managers. In each of these efforts, I have elevated your voice as an ACRO member, ensuring that nobody is drowned-out.
At times, it seems radiation oncology is under constant threat from ever tightening reimbursement structures, and from encroachment by other disciplines. We need a strong voice leading ACRO to remind those around us of the exceptional value radiation oncology brings to cancer care and beyond. If elected, I will ensure that my voice echoes yours, expressing your concerns and protecting your interests in the process.
If our voices are heard, radiation oncology will remain the most technologically exciting and personally rewarding discipline in all of medicine, even as I believe it is today. We have potential to excel beyond our imagination as we serve patients who deserve our best. But, we need a clear voice leading that charge. I ask for your vote, and I promise that if lam elected, your voice will be heard.
#YOURVOICE
#OURVOICE
#ACROVOICE
Finally, special thank you to our PRO podcast guests and all who *volunteer* their time and expertise to the ABR to the betterment of the field of radiation oncology.
Happy Sunday! What better way to celebrate the 4-year anniversary of my joining Twitter/X in a pregnancy hormone-fueled feud with the ABR than with a podcast on the subject with the ABR’s very own Dr. @MichaelYunes and David Laszakovits?!
https://t.co/C0d4ZQdKFy
Hey, that 👇 was a good idea.
https://t.co/u1T20a8M9R
My first reflex was to editorialize, but wise senior and peer mentors highlighted that the target audience may be more compelled by quantitative data.
There is no question the data is compelling. Get ready for it!
I’m grateful for the discussion and left recognizing many avenues—including clarifying ACGME restrictions on timing of exams—to continue improving flexibilities of the ABR rad onc certifying exams. Everyone should be on board with reducing unnecessary hurdles for our trainees.
@KrishanJethwa Ok this all makes so much sense. I’ve mentally dichotomized permanent ostomy yes or no without considering the nuance of ostomy-free QOL on a spectrum based on anastomosis location. Brilliant! And a lean towards chemo with known N1 is also very logical.
Thank you again!
@KrishanJethwa Also, what about patients with above (>5 cm from sphincter) who are highly motivated to avoid TME even if it doesn’t result in permanent ostomy? Would you offer OPRA-style TNT in that scenario..?
Thanks again!!👏🏻👏🏻
@KrishanJethwa This is incredibly helpful - so difficult to synthesize all the various trials into one algo. Kudos!
Two questions: why do you prefer radiation omission for low risk mid/upper but equipoise for mid? Are you concerned for more bowel dose…? Or do they behave differently?
I was asked to stand up & tell my faith story in my place of worship. This struck more fear in my heart than I have EVER felt in all the talks I’ve ever given!
For me- my career as an oncologist is the most important thing that led me back to my faith tradition.
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One of the (flat out THE..?) most impactful components of my training were those with whom I trained. Proud to count @EvanThomas84 as a colleague and friend and thankful to him and everyone who chooses to use their unique skills to serve our country.
@drbeckta Totally. Instead of meal trains we should have sleep trains for new parents where family, friends and neighbors each donate one night of childcare so the parents can sleep! One night is totally doable. 1000 nights not so much.
When my patient asked if I had children, I jokingly said: yes three 3 and under, but please don’t let that make you think I have poor judgement.
She solemnly replied: “That is the greatest work you will ever do. And I say that as someone who is putting her life in your hands.”