The Choosing Wisely® Campaign From the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
ASCO is once again participating in ABIM's Choosing Wisely® Campaign. It has assembled a Top Five List of tests, procedures and/or treatments whose common use and clinical value are not supported by available evidence.
ASCO's 2013 Top Five List in Oncology
ASCO recognizes the importance of evidence-based cancer care and making wise choices in the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer.
After careful consideration by experienced oncologists, ASCO annually highlights five categories of tests, procedures and/or treatments annually whose common use and clinical value are not supported by available evidence as part of the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Choosing Wisely® Campaign.
View the 2013 list in PDF format.
1. | Do not give patients starting on a chemotherapy regimen that has a low or moderate risk of causing nausea and vomiting anti-emetic drugs intended for use with a regimen that has a high risk of causing nausea and vomiting. | |
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2. | Do not use combination chemotherapy (multiple drugs) instead of chemotherapy with one drug when treating an individual for metastatic breast cancer unless the patient needs a rapid response to relieve tumor-related symptoms. | |
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3. | Avoid using PET or PET-CT scanning as part of routine follow-up care to monitor for a cancer recurrence in asymptomatic patients who have finished initial treatment to eliminate the cancer unless there is high-level evidence that such imaging will change the outcome. | |
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4. | Do not perform PSA testing for prostate cancer screening in men with no symptoms of the disease when they are expected to live less than 10 years. | |
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5. | Do not use a targeted therapy intended for use against a specific genetic aberration unless a patient’s tumor cells have a specific biomarker that predicts an effective response to the targeted therapy. | |
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Note: These test and treatment options should not be administered unless the physician and patient have carefully considered if their use is appropriate in the individual case. As an example, when a patient is enrolled in a clinical trial, these tests, treatments, and procedures may be part of the trial protocol and therefore deemed necessary for the patient’s participation in the trial.
These items are provided solely for informational purposes and are not intended to replace a medical professional’s independent judgment or as a substitute for consultation with a medical professional. Patients with any specific questions about the items on this list or their individual situation should consult their health care provider. New evidence may emerge following the development of these items. ASCO is not responsible for any injury or damage arising out of or related to any use of these items or to any errors or omissions.
Additional Resources
- ASCO in Action: Top Five List Provides Steps for Physicians to Improve Quality and Value in Oncology Care
- Information on ASCO's Value in Cancer Care Task Force
- Journal of Clinical Oncology: Read the full article on this year's list.
- Cancer.Net has assembled patient-oriented resources pertaining to this year's Top Five List. Access information you can direct your patients toward.
- Adventures in Choosing Wisely by Amy Berman, The John A. Hartford Foundation