In South Florida and beyond, the word cancer evokes a deep and familiar fear. For thousands of families, a diagnosis is not only a daunting medical battle, it’s often a crushing financial burden.
Rachel Méndez knows that struggle firsthand.
“We didn’t have health insurance, and all we wanted was to start treatment as soon as possible,” said Méndez. “The cancer was already stage 3. Time was critical.”
In Florida, cancer treatments can range anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000 an unattainable cost for many. But amid this reality, a powerful new ally is beginning to open doors: artificial intelligence (AI).
At the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, held May 30 to June 3 in Chicago, AI and emerging technologies took center stage. Experts agreed that these innovations are transforming the way we approach cancer care.
“AI can significantly lower treatment costs by streamlining processes like drug discovery and clinical trial management,” said Toygun Onaran, Chief Financial Officer at Massive Bio, a company focused on connecting patients to clinical trials with equity and efficiency.
Beyond affordability, AI is also making early cancer detection more achievable, helping to avoid aggressive treatments, and improving patients’ quality of life.
Dr. Arturo Loaiza-Bonilla, a medical oncologist, and Chief Medical Officer at Massive Bio, emphasized AI’s potential to close long-standing gaps.
“AI has the power to democratize access to cutting-edge therapies and clinical trials, especially in underserved communities,” said Loaiza-Bonilla. “But that will only happen if we design inclusive, multilingual and patient-centered technologies. Innovation alone isn’t enough; it must be rooted in social justice.”
Echoing that sentiment, Dr. Andrés Álvarez, MD, PhD, EMHA, an expert in medical innovation and director of the Division of Research and Translational Medicine at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center in Jacksonville, emphasized the importance of AI in medicine.
“Artificial intelligence enables us to anticipate needs, allocate resources more efficiently, and most importantly, provide access to research opportunities for patients who never would have had that chance before,” said Álvarez.
While challenges and disparities persist, particularly in vulnerable communities, the path forward is hopeful. AI is no longer just a technological promise. It is becoming a vital tool in the push for more equitable, effective cancer care.
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