So a somewhat misinterpretable media release from ASTRO yesterday announced the development of a new tool (called the CaP Calculator) designed to help physicians advise their patients about treatment selection following a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
The press release states that the CaP Calculator “was created for doctors to use and is not available for patients to access directly.” However, The “New” Prostate Cancer InfoLink has been able to speak directly to the developer of the calculator, Matthew Katz, MD, of Radiation Oncology Associates of New England, and he makes certain important points:
- First, and most importantly, his presentation at ASTRO was descriptive. The tool in its current state is not ready for “prime time.”
- Second, the calculator has not been validated in clinical practice, and Dr. Katz is hoping that it may be possible to do this in some form of randomized trial prior to making it more widely available.
- Third, the use of this tool is complex, and its potential value is as much about ensuring that patients are fully informed through the treatment decision process as it is about helping to pick a form of treatment.
Dr. Katz has kindly agreed to cooperate with The “New” Prostate Cancer InfoLink to make additional information about this tool available after the ASTRO meeting is over, and we look forward to bringing readers more information in due course.
Filed under: Diagnosis, Management, Treatment | Tagged: CaP Calculator, decision, process, Treatment |
THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK 
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