At a Patient Reception on 6th December 2025, 20 leaders from 17 patient advocacy groups from across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the United States shared their support for the need to strengthen shared decision-making in healthcare. On December 7, 2025, the ESMO Asia 2025 Symposium ‘Advancing EGFRm NSCLC Treatment Through Shared Decision-Making’ that was organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and where Johnson & Johnson was involved, highlighted the role of healthcare professionals not only in making sense of the data but also in helping patients and their families navigate complex decision-making.
The transnational symposium, which was held in Singapore and which brought together over 4,550 participants from more than 70 countries from all over the world, indicates that there is a high prevalence of lung cancer in Asia. Referring to the high prevalence of lung cancer and shared decision making in Asia, Zhu Zhengfei, Professor and Director of the Radiation Oncology Department, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, said, “High prevalence in Asia of certain NSCLC mutations makes the choice of first-line therapy absolutely critical. Treatment decisions must balance clinical objectives with patient values — weighing disease biology, survival prospects, durable disease control, and the tradeoffs of side effects. That’s why shared decision-making is essential…”
A recent patient survey, Johnson & Johnson lung cancer patient quantitative survey, conducted in Japan in 2025, finds that those engaged in shared decision-making were 11 times more likely to report higher satisfaction with their treatments, with 90 percent of lung cancer patients in Japan wanting to play an active role in their treatment decisions. This finding underscores the importance of shared decision-making and patient-centered care. The survey also found that shared decision-making, where physicians and patients jointly compare treatment options and decide together, is the strongest driver of treatment satisfaction.
Referring to the empowerment of patients to speak and its relationship to the treatment continuation at the “The 3rd Opinion” session, an campaign initiative launched by Johnson & Johnson that focused on championing shared decision-making between lung cancer patients and healthcare professionals, Ms. Liu Yiting, Marketing and Branding Director, China MeetHealth Mi-Jian Patient Community said, “When lung cancer patients are empowered to speak up and understand their options, they are more likely to continue the treatment and their dignity is preserved. Initiatives like ‘The 3rd Opinion’ are vital for fostering truly patient-centered partnerships between people living with cancer and their healthcare teams.”
Putting importance on the shared commitment of both healthcare providers and the patients of lung cancer, Mr. Jung-Il Cho, Chairman of Korea Lung Cancer Patients Association, said, “The shared commitment validates what many people living with lung cancer have long expressed: shared decision making is essential. From our experience supporting patients, meaningful conversations with clinicians help acknowledge patients’ experiences, address their concerns, and preserve their hopes.”
Putting importance on the shared decision making in the treatment of lung cancer and the responsibility of the clinicians to it, Zhu Zhengfei, Director of the Radiation Oncology Department, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, further said, ”…clinicians should present all appropriate treatment options, so the final choice is collaborative and aligned with each patient’s goals.”
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DISCLAIMER: The piece was issued by Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) and sent to Dhaka Opinion Magazine by Media OutReach Newswire. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Magazine and its editorial team. Views published are the sole responsibility of the author(s).
