Cancer Treatment Centers of America
TINA.org investigated Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), a for-profit cancer center that consistently spent more on marketing each year than any other U.S. cancer center, and found that it promoted patient testimonials that deceptively touted atypical results. Some patient testimonials also promoted novel treatments, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapies based on genomic testing, without clearly and conspicuously disclosing their limitations, risks and relative rarity.
Highlights
- Filed complaint with FTC
- CTCA added disclaimer to website
Timeline
2022
February 2
CTCA officially becomes City of Hope.
2021
December 8
City of Hope, a nonprofit National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer research and treatment organization, announces it has entered into an agreement to acquire CTCA. The press release indicates the transaction is expected to close in early 2022 and that after close, City of Hope intends to convert CTCA to a nonprofit organization.
2020
November 15
CTCA adds a disclaimer at the top of its Patient Stories webpage. The disclaimer states: “We understand that no two cancer patients are alike, and neither is their treatment journey. Each patient’s journey, though, has some common traits: strength, determination, persistence and sense of hope in the battle against cancer. Our patients inspire us every day. We tell their stories here, in their words, as a tribute to them.”
2018
October 22
TINA.org sends a complaint letter to the FTC urging it to reopen its investigation of CTCA and take appropriate enforcement action.
2016
May 31
The FTC’s consent agreement with CTA expires.
1996
May 31
The FTC enters into a consent agreement with CTCA that prohibits it from, among other things, using patient testimonials that misrepresent the typical experience of its patients.
Featured
Cancer Care: The Deceptive Marketing of Hope
TINA.org files complaint against CTCA and puts 42 cancer centers on notice for marketing atypical testimonials.
The Latest
Cancer Center Advertising: When Consumer Education and Regulatory Complaints Aren’t Enough
TINA.org strives to educate clinicians about patient testimonials.
When Truthful Testimonials Are Deceptive
When it comes to testimonials, the truth will not always set marketers free.
Deceptive Cancer Care Marketing By the Numbers
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Be wary of cancer survivor stories as they very well may not represent the typical patient’s experience.