ASCO 2016 | The importance of patient involvement in discussing treatment options

James Larkin, MD, PhD, of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, discusses the upcoming Melanoma Patient Conference in June 2016. He believes that it is a very positive event, and patients are already very involved in discussions about their own care, highlighting that he has noticed that within the last 5-10 years, patients have become increasingly aware of the clinical trials that are happening all around the UK and have even asked to be referred. He believes the enthusiasm and knowledge within the community exists even more now, and when it comes to discussing treatment options, it is already happening. In terms of planning trials, patient involvement has become an integral part of how patients and trials are managed both in the carrying out of trials and in the planning of such treatments. Recorded at the American Society of Oncology (ASCO) 2016 Annual Meeting held in Chicago, IL.