Telehealth can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with cancer care, study finds.

New research from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute shows that telemedicine visits for cancer care can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional in-person appointments. The study found that nationwide, utilizing telehealth and local care for cancer treatment would result in a 33.1% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to reduced travel to medical appointments. The findings, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, highlight the environmental benefits of a decentralized approach to cancer care. However, the researchers note that telemedicine may not be suitable for all patients and caution that it should be carefully balanced with the potential risks and benefits. [Extracted from the article]