19 December 2017 - In Seligman’s famous series of experiments, two groups of dogs were shocked at random intervals. Dogs in one group could stop the shocks by pressing a lever. 

The other group had levers, too, but they were ineffectual. In the face of repeated shocks, those dogs soon showed signs of learned helplessness—resigned to their fate. Cancer specialists might empathise. 

The steady rise in the price of cancer drugs has produced its own series of shocks, in the form of persistent outcry and concern among patients, providers, and payers. Despite the plethora of proposed payment schemes and endless policy responses, for the most part, nothing has changed. With so much talk and so little action, one wonders how and whether the medical and policy communities will continue to respond to sticker shock. Will we tire of the talk and become so inured to the problem that we render ourselves helpless to effect change?

Read J Clinical Oncology editorial