Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2025

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: September 30, 2021
Financial Toxicity and Shared Decision Making in Oncology
1Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, 310 Cedar Street, LH 118, New Haven, CT 60510, USA; The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
Oncologists struggle with discussing cancer treatment costs due to discomfort and lack of information. Transparent communication is key to reducing financial toxicity and improving patient care.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Economics
- Patient Advocacy
Background:
- Physicians often lack preparedness for discussing financial costs of cancer care.
- Barriers include provider discomfort, insufficient information, and concerns about damaging the patient-doctor relationship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the challenges oncologists face in communicating treatment costs to patients.
- To emphasize the importance of transparent financial discussions in managing cancer care expenses.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on communication barriers in oncology.
- Analysis of financial toxicity in cancer patients.
- Exploration of strategies for effective cost communication.
Main Results:
- Identified provider discomfort and lack of accurate financial data as significant barriers.
- Highlighted the potential for cost discussions to negatively impact the patient-provider relationship.
- Recognized that transparent communication can lead to cost-saving strategies.
Conclusions:
- Effective and transparent communication regarding treatment costs is crucial in oncology.
- Addressing these communication barriers can help mitigate financial toxicity for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Cancer Survival Analysis
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Nurses' Legal Responsibilities I
The legal responsibilities of a nurse regarding informed consent include the following:
Treatment Resistant Cancers

