Dr. John Sheldon: Access to care matters

Regarding the article “Bill takes aim at pancreatic cancer” [Gazette, Nov. 23], I fully support Bill H.2182 (S.1330), which seeks, among other things, to ensure that individuals at increased risk for pancreatic cancer, due to family history or genetic susceptibility, indeed have access to (insurance coverage for) genetic testing and screening studies (endoscopic ultrasound, MRI scans) in order to maximize vigilance and pursue earliest possible detection.

Rep. Hannah Kane, a co-sponsor of the bill, stresses the importance of early access to care and start of treatment. At Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson, we appreciate the importance of timeliness of treatment, and strive to see new patients seeking outpatient evaluation/care within two weeks of request, if not sooner such as 1-3 days for especially urgent situations.

We are quick to coordinate multidisciplinary care, including specialized surgical consultation in Boston if need be. We can arrange for review as to whether a particular clinical trial in Boston may be the best option for a patient.

Being in western Massachusetts, we do face the geographic challenges of recruiting new physician specialists and other providers to our team — I appreciate Sen. Jo Comerford’s recognition of that. But committed we are to our patients, there is no doubt on that. Looking ahead, west-east rail service (and/or Northern Tier passenger rail) will be a very important step in enhancing access to specialty care for our patients.

John Sheldon, MD

Medical director, radiation oncology, Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Amherst