Top Five List in Oncology

On April 4, 2012, ASCO announced the Top Five List in Oncology, which highlights five tests, procedures, and treatments that are commonly used in cancer care but not supported by evidence and should be questioned.

This list was issued as part of ASCO's participation with the Choosing Wisely campaign, an initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation aiming to get physicians, patients, and other health care stakeholders thinking and talking about the value of each medical test, procedure, and treatment. At the campaign's launch, nine medical specialty societies issued lists, each focusing on a specific field of medicine.

Learn what patients need to know about the Top Five recommendations for cancer care and treatment:

Cancer.Net Patient Summary: Top Five Cancer-Related Tests, Procedures, and Treatments That Many Patients Do Not Need

• Topic #1: Cancer-Directed Treatments at the End of Life
• Topic #2: Imaging Tests for Early-Stage Prostate Cancer
• Topic #3: Imaging Tests for Early-Stage Breast Cancer
• Topic #4: Follow-up Tumor Marker Tests and Imaging Tests for People Treated for Breast Cancer
• Topic #5: White Blood Cell Growth Factors for Preventing Infection

Para leer la lista de los “cinco principales” en español, haga clic aquí.

Cancer.Net Podcast: The Top Five List in Oncology - What This Means for Patients, with ASCO CEO Allen Lichter, MD

Learn more in these Consumer Reports handouts for patients about the Top Five List in Oncology. This publication is a partner in Choosing Wisely campaign.

Consumer Reports: Care at the End of Life for Advanced Cancer Patients (Topic 1; PDF)

Consumer Reports: Imaging Tests for Early Prostate Cancer (Topic 2; PDF)

Consumer Reports: Imaging and Tumor Marker Tests for Breast Cancer (Topics 3 and 4; PDF)

Consumer Reports: Drugs to Boost White Blood Cells for Cancer Patients on Chemotherapy (Topic 5; PDF)

Learn more about the Top Five List in Oncology and the Choosing Wisely campaign:

ASCO.org: Choosing Wisely - ASCO Identifies Five Key Opportunities in Oncology to Improve Quality and Value of Patient Care

ChoosingWisely.org: Visit the campaign website.