Dr. Matthew Taub treats patients for a wide range of cancers as a hematologist-oncologist at Everglades Oncology and Hematology. Board-certified in his field, Dr. Matthew Taub maintains a close watch on research developments informing the oncology community. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a recent study led by a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researcher indicates the efficacy of immunotherapy in treating triple-negative breast cancer. As many as 20 percent of breast cancer cases involve this advanced, aggressive form of the disease, which has a relatively low survival rate and an elevated chance of metastasis and recurrence. The study involved augmenting chemotherapy with atezolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, which was well tolerated by a sample of more than 900 chemotherapy patients and brought significant clinical benefits. These included statistically significant levels of progression-free survival of 7.2 months, versus 5.5 months among those patients who received chemotherapy alone.
Fellowship trained in hematology and oncology, Dr. Matthew Taub helps patients to overcome cancer and achieve sustained pathways to wellness and recovery. Active with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Dr. Matthew Taub follows advances and developments in his field.Recently released, the second annual ASCO National Cancer Opinion Survey found that approximately 40 percent of respondents believe alternative medicine alone can effectively combat the disease. Unfortunately, as ASCO emphasizes, alternative treatments such as vitamin regimens, oxygen therapy, and special diets don’t work on their own. Several studies have confirmed that compared to people who take their doctors’ recommendations, those who do not obtain evidence-based cancer treatment or undergo alternative therapies are 2.5 times likelier to die within a given time period. This results in part from a lack of data on alternative therapies. In addition, many alternative treatments have proven not to be beneficial to patients. The ASCO survey, which spanned nearly 5,000 adults, further reveals that people between the ages of 18 and 37 are most likely to view alternative medicine as a standalone cancer solution, with those over age 72 the least likely to view it as such. With one-fifth of respondents having experienced cancer or currently living with the disease, only 22 percent of this cohort believe that alternative therapies take the place of standard care.
Florida-based oncologist Matthew Taub serves on the boards of several regional hospitals. In addition, Dr. Matthew Taub is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Florida Medical Association and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).Since 1964, ASCO has promoted innovations in cancer care and improvement in patient outcomes by providing education and research opportunities to medical professionals specializing in oncology. ASCO also advocates for policies and regulations that increase access to cancer treatment and high-quality care.One of ASCO’s staunchest platforms is making cancer treatment more affordable. In a policy statement released in 2017, ASCO noted that cancer treatments have become much more effective, but they are not financially accessible to many patients. Treatment costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, causing financial strain that can result in bankruptcy or the forgoing of essential treatment. To combat this, ASCO supports any policy or legislation that aims to lower the cost of cancer drugs, such as negotiating drug prices at the national level.
