CANCER BUZZ

For cancer programs and practices, silos between specialties make it challenging to address the comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease) many patients with cancer experience. In the same healthcare system, a patient's primary care provider (PCP) may not know what their cancer care team knows and vice versa. Hear how an embedded PCP at ChristianaCare's Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute—a 2022 ACCC Innovator Award winner—allows a patient's oncology care team and PCP to be informed and collaborate on treatment plans when necessary.

Guest:

Debra Delaney MSN, FNP-BCPrimary Care Nurse PractitionerChristianaCare Health System, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute

"I always enjoyed primary care…. It adds an extra layer for support for my oncology patients because they know that they can reach out to me with any question that they may have, and I get great satisfaction from caring for them."

Resources:

• A Collaborative Primary and Cancer Care Model
• Patients with Cancer, Comorbidities, and No Primary Care Provider
• 2022 ACCC Innovator Award Details
• ACCC 39th National Oncology Conference
• Comprehensive Cancer Care Services
• PCP Insights Needed to Improve Cancer Screening in Rural Appalachia

This podcast is part of a special series on the 2022 ACCC Innovator Award winners. For a deeper dive into this content, visit ACCC's Innovator Award website.

With the emergence of oral cancer therapies, it is a very exciting time in cancer care. But these treatments can come with adverse events. Dr. Pavani Chalasani from the University of Arizona Cancer Center shares how she educates patients on what to expect from oral cancer therapies and her focus on one of the most underestimated symptoms for patients.

Pavani Chalasani, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Medicine

University of Arizona Cancer Center

Tucson, AZ

Related Content:

• Addressing Challenges in Oral Therapies for HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer
• Targeted Drug Therapy | Breast Cancer Treatment (American Cancer Society)
• Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer Treatment (American Cancer Society)
• 2018 Hematology/Oncology Pharmacist Association Best Practices for the Management of Oral Oncolytic Therapy: Pharmacy Practice Standard
• Challenges of Caregivers of Cancer Patients who are on Oral Oncolytic Therapy
• Patient and Plan Characteristics Affecting Abandonment of Oral Oncolytic Prescriptions

This is the first video podcast in a series from the "Addressing Challenges in Oral Therapies for HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer" education program.

Funding and support provided by Lilly Oncology. VV-OTHR-US-DEL-0876 © Lilly USA, LLC 2022. All rights reserved.

©2022. Association of Community Cancer Centers. All rights reserved. No part of this production may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission.

While patients with cancer face many physical and psychological challenges associated with their disease and/or treatment, their social, emotional, and legal needs can lead to ongoing health disparities and reduced quality of life if left unaddressed. Hear how a unique medical-legal partnership at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health System expands the clinical team to include lawyers who address the legal issues that affect patients' health and well-being. Learn how this 2022 ACCC Innovator Award winner redefined "comprehensive care" for patients and enabled the program's team lead to embrace her passion to consistently find joy in her day-to-day role.

Guests:

Allison L. Held, JDAssociate General Counsel & Director, Medical-Legal Partnership at VCU Health SystemVirginia Commonwealth University Health System, VCU Massey Cancer Center

Resources:

• VCU's Medical-Legal Partnership Meets Oncology Patients' Needs
• 2022 ACCC Innovator Award Details
• ACCC 39th National Oncology Conference
• Comprehensive Cancer Care Services
• The Role of Community Partners in Serving AYA Patients
• ACCC Financial Advocacy Network

This podcast is part of a special series on the 2022 ACCC Innovator Award winners. For a deeper dive into this content, visit ACCC's Innovator Award website.

While telehealth has expanded the delivery of healthcare services, many populations--including older adults with cancer--lack the know-how to use technology to their advantage during their cancer journey. Lower levels of digital literacy impede patients from accessing timely information, feeling empowered to ask questions, and seeking the best treatment for their diagnosis. To support patients to become DIGITALLY EMPOWERED, learn about a free program from the Patient Empowerment Network that teaches older adults with cancer valuable technology skills to engage digitally in their care.

Guest:

Andrea Conners

Executive Director

Patient Empowerment Network

Resources:

• Digital Bridges: Optimizing Telehealth for Older Adults with Cancer
• Patient Empowerment Network
• DIGITALLY EMPOWERED
• Virtual Assessment of Physical Function in Adults With Cancer: Practical Tips
• Using Telemedicine to Assess Psychological Health
• [VIDEO PODCAST] Ep 07: Genetic Testing & Telehealth

This podcast is part of the ACCC education program, Digital Bridges. This project is supported by Merck.

The demand for medical cannabis education from both providers and patients is increasing dramatically as the stigma on its use decreases. The Cannabis and Cancer Research and Education Clinic (CanCaRE) was developed to meet this growing need--providing education on safe and effective cannabis use, dosing recommendations, and symptom management strategies. Hear how using novel agents like medical cannabis to improve their patients' quality of life is part of their overall mission to provide comprehensive cancer care services.

Guests:

Sarah Jax, APRN, CNP

Oncology/Hematology Advanced Practitioner

HealthPartners Cancer Research Center at HealthPartners Frauenshuh Cancer Center

St. Louis Park, Minnesota

Resources:

• "Holy Smokes: Developing a cannabis clinic for patients with cancer"

• HealthPartners Frauenshuh Cancer Center
• Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program
• "Medical Marijuana (Cannabinoid-Derived Products) for Cancer Patients"
• Cannabis and Cancer Research and Education Clinic Intake Questionnaire
• Virtual Integrative Services — [MINI PODCAST] Ep 77
• "Development of a Virtual Integrative Oncology Center"

This podcast is part of a special series with ACCC's Oncology Issues journal. For a deeper dive into this content, please read, "Holy Smokes," from V37 N4.

Allen Beck and Rivka Shakow Beck were newlyweds when Allen was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. Allen and Rivka were thrust into a stressful, unfamiliar situation while trying to figure out how to manage mounting medical bills and prepare for Allen's bone marrow transplant.

Enter financial advocate, Angie Santiago. Angie discovered grants to help pay for the premiums, tapped into hospital funds to cover the bills, mapped out coverage across state lines, and more. Tune in to hear their unique experiences as patient, caregiver, and financial advocate.

Guests:

Angie Santiago, CRCS

Manager, Oncology Financial AdvocacyThomas Jefferson University Health System, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Advisory Committee Chair, ACCC Financial Advocacy Network

Allen Beck

Patient

Rivka Shakow Beck

Caregiver

Resources:

• ACCC Patient Assistance & Reimbursement Guide
• Financial Advocacy Boot Camp
• Financial Advocacy Playbook and Toolkit
• Fighting Financial Toxicity
• Making the Business Care for Hiring a Financial Navigator
• [VIDEO PODCAST] Ep 11: Digital Patient Assistance Guide
• [VIDEO PODCAST] Ep 06: Financial Advocacy Playbook
• Tips for Helping Relieve Patients of Financial Burden

The Federal Trade Commission unanimously launched a formal inquiry into the business practices of the prescription drug middleman industry—known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—in early June 2022 due to the overwhelming response of more than 24,000 public comments during their request for information.

Listen to ACCC's Matt Devino and Dr. Rahul Seth discuss why every voice is critical in grassroots advocacy efforts on both the federal and state level, and how cancer professionals who moonlight as patient advocates can help improve access to care and reduce financial toxicity for people living with cancer.

Speakers

Matt Devino, MPH Director, Cancer Care Delivery & Health Policy Association of Community Cancer Centers

Rahul Seth, DO Assistant Professor of Medicine State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Related Resources

• State by State: Advocacy Advances PBM Reform, Part 1
• State by State: Advocacy Advances PBM Reform, Part 2
• FTC Requests Public Comments on the Impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers' Practices
• FTC Launches Inquiry Into Prescription Drug Middlemen Industry
• Oncology State Societies Advocacy Engagement Pilot
• ACCC Legislative Action Center

Clinical trials are the best instrument to advance treatment for blood cancers, but numerous challenges exist around trial identification, enrollment, and participation. We'll hear perspectives from a community provider and patient advocacy organization on immediate--and forward-thinking--solutions to help this population better access clinical trials, including a tool from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help patients identify cancer clinical trials that may be a fit.

Guests:

Ethan Binder, MD

Hematologist and OncologistPresbyterian Rust Medical Center

Rio Rancho, NM

Leah Szumita, MS, RN

Director, Clinical Trial Support CenterLeukemia & Lymphoma Society

Rye Brook, NY

Resources:

• ACCC Community Oncology Research Institute
• ACORI Call to Action Summit: Activating Equity in Community Oncology Research
• ASCO-ACCC Joint Research Statement
• Clinical Trial Support Center (CTSC)
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Research & Clinical Trial Resources at ACCC
• Ep 60: Advancing Clinical Trial Equity

This podcast is the first in a series from the ACCC Community Oncology Research Institute (ACORI).

Hear how Vanderbilt University Medical Center created a model for integrating advanced practitioners into a radiation oncology satellite clinic to provide long-term follow-up care and survivorship services.

This pilot program exceeded expectations—not only in patient satisfaction and quality of care—but generated revenue for their institution by allowing physicians more time for patient consults and treatment planning.

Guest:

Ellen R. Miller, MSN, FNP-BC

Radiation Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, TN

Resources:

• Filling the Gap: APP Utilization to Meet Care Needs in Oncology

• Ep 60: Advancing Clinical Trial Equity
• Ep 63: Advanced Practitioners' Role in Research
• Ep 65: The Evolution of the Advanced Practitioner
• [Ep 68: Supportive Care in Radiation Oncology
• Summit Explores Role of Oncology Advanced Practitioners in Equitable Cancer Care Delivery

Dr. Stephen Quake, President of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network, spoke to CANCER BUZZ about the application of liquid biopsies across multiple cancer stages and their potential to improve patient outcomes, minimize financial toxicity, and create health equity through greater testing access and lower cost. He identified trends that are shaping the future of cancer research, including the amazing developments in new cancer screens for diseases where they don't currently exist. Hear about the hydroxymethylation measurement techniques pioneered by his lab, which is the exact science now being used by many investigational multi-cancer early detection (MCED) assays to screen for cancers which don't have guideline-approved tests, like pancreatic and ovarian cancer.

Guest:

Stephen Quake, PhD

Professor of Bioengineering and Applied Physics, Stanford University

Co-President, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network

Resources:

• Stanford Quake Lab
• Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network
• New Chan Zuckerberg Biohub awards foster research collaborations
• Transforming Complex to Clear: Precision Medicine Resources
• [Blog] Barriers to Liquid Biopsy
• [Podcast] What You Need to Know about Liquid Biopsy
• Improving the Timeliness of Biomarker Testing by Using Liquid Biopsy When Tissue Samples are Insufficient for Testing
• [Podcast] Financial Barriers to Biomarker Testing
• Biomarker Testing: Cost and Coverage
• Bluestar Genomics | Liquid Biopsy Cancer Detection