Creating a database of cancer treatment options

As Tillman Pearce explained, the requirement is for a fully comprehensive, universal cancer treatment database covering the very many different kinds of options and treatment strategies available in different clinics and hospitals in different parts of the world. Both the medical profession and cancer patients have a great need for such a resource.

The main reasons why such a much needed resource hasn't emerged yet are:

1) There are too many variables involved: type of cancer; location and size of cancer; progression of cancer; age and sex of patient; health of patient; genetic variation of patient; prior therapies; combination therapies; trial treatment strategies, etc.

2) Technology and scientific knowledge relating to cancer treatment is continuously changing and evolving.

3) There are a very large number of people involved in the treatment of cancer. They are moving around in different areas of specialty as new types of treatment become available through research and new technologies.

These reasons suggest that an effective and efficient, universal cancer treatment information resource would require a massive and highly complex database, where the content would have to be continuously updated. The costs and the organisation necessary for the establishment and maintenance of such a database would certainly prove prohibitive.

Clearly, a conventional solution is out of the question. If there is to be any solution at all it will require a radically new approach. This is where we can start to think in terms of using some of the unique properties of the Internet to create a database that will be self-organising and self maintaining.