East Montgomery Times

Cancer patients often face significant time commitments in managing their care, which includes attending appointments, undergoing tests, and receiving treatments. This has led researchers to examine the concept of "time toxicity," referring to the time spent on cancer treatment processes. A new pilot study led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center explores how digital technology can reduce this burden.

The study utilized a text-messaging system designed to save patients over an hour per visit by streamlining pre-treatment procedures. Senior author Ronac Mamtani, MD, stated, “Patients with cancer spend an enormous amount of time engaging with the health care system, and for patients with advanced cancer in particular, that time is precious.” The platform allows certain patients to bypass routine pre-infusion checks if they report no concerning symptoms via a 16-question survey.

The approach was inspired by airport TSA pre-check lines and aims to offer a fast-track option for patients undergoing immunotherapy for solid tumor cancers. Patients were randomized into two groups: one received traditional in-person checks; the other used the text message platform. Those using the platform saved more than 60 minutes per visit without compromising safety or quality of life.

Lead author Erin M. Bange noted, “Considering that patients who consented for the study told us that saving even 45 minutes per visit would significantly impact their lives, we were excited to see that our first test of this tool surpassed expectations.”

However, some patients preferred traditional visits due to personal or provider preferences. The research team plans further testing in real-world settings before broader implementation. Mamtani emphasized ongoing refinement based on feedback from both providers and patients.

The study received support from several organizations including an ASCO Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award and grants from various foundations and institutes.