Dorothy M. K. Keefe, MD, FRACP, past president, MASCC, director, SA Cancer Service, professor of cancer medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia, discusses the role of supportive care in personalized medicine.

MASCC has many collaborations with other societies in several countries, Keefe says, including an upcoming co-sponsored meeting with ASCO on palliative care.

MASCC is constantly trying to spread the message to focus on the patient, not just the cancer. The basis of personalized cancer medicine is how to best treat the patient and the cancer together, Keefe says.

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Dr. Keefe on the Role of Supportive Care in Personalized Medicine

Dorothy M. K. Keefe, MD, FRACP, past president, MASCC, director, SA Cancer Service, professor of cancer medicine, University of Adelaide, discusses links between toxicities associated with anticancer drugs.

There are 17 study groups at the 2014 MASCC/ISOO International Symposium all focused on different toxicities, psychological problems, or other supportive care needs. However, Keefe says, a patient with cancer experiences multiple toxicities and a physician cannot focus on just one.

MASCC produces the best guidelines in the world for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), Keefe says, but the guidelines are not always implemented completely. As an example, Keefe says that countries in Asia adhere to MASCC CINV guidelines differently because chemotherapy is administered differently.

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Dorothy M. K. Keefe, MD

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Dr. Keefe on the Role of Supportive Care in Personalized Medicine

Dr. Keefe Discusses Links Between Toxicities