CANCER BUZZ

Each year, ACCC is active at the state and federal level, advocating on behalf of its members to ensure that the rules and regulations in place do not in any way impede the delivery of high-quality cancer care. In 2023, ACCC members identified four core areas of focus among a larger set of issues and concerns that the organization will support: 1) Protect Adequate and Stable Reimbursement for Onco...

The average survival rate for patients with myelofibrosis is six years. But this varies based on potential treatments. There are no drugs that can modify the outcome for myelofibrosis, and the only treatment that leads to cure is an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). However, because of the high rates of morbidity and mortality, this treatment must be carefully considered ba...

While significant advances have been made overall in the treatment of multiple myeloma, the management of transplant-ineligible patients remains challenging. Patients with multiple myeloma are not cured with conventional therapy. Treatment does, however, alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life, and prolong survival. The current standard of care for multiple myeloma patients includes an anti-CD...

Recognizing the need for better care coordination and prompted by the experience of a patient partner, WellSpan Health embarked on a multispecialty effort to reimagine how incidental nodules are managed through the lens of the Quadruple Aim: improving the patient and provider experience, lowering per capita cost of care, and optimizing the health of populations . The new care delivery model identi...

As clinicians continue to seek new ways to provide the best patient care for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, a group of rare hematological cancers which can be challenging to treat, hear how recent guideline and treatment updates by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) can optimize care for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with...

As soaring testing costs, coverage challenges, and heavy administrative overhead continue to impact access to guideline-concordant screening and biomarker testing, hear what multidisciplinary care teams need to know about mitigating the financial burden of cancer diagnostics. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Jan Nowak, MD, PhD and clinical chief of Molecular Pathology at Roswell Park Compr...

As cancer programs seek new ways to improve coordination of molecular testing, hear how precision medicine stewards can streamline testing processes to improve efficiency and improve the patient experience. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Melissa Cruz-Tanner, LPN, OPN-CG, and manager of Patient Navigation Services and the newly created Molecular Processing Department at Astera Cancer Care...

As myeloproliferative neoplasms carry a significant symptom burden and oftentimes can require lifelong care coordination and close monitoring, hear how a strong multidisciplinary approach can impact shared decision-making and patient engagement. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with speaks with Andrew Kuykendall, MD, assistant member of the Department of Malignant Hematology at Moffitt Cancer C...

Multiple myeloma refers to blood cancer found within the plasma cells of bone marrow. It is a rare cancer, affecting less than one percent of the U.S. population. Currently, there is no cure for multiple myeloma, but there are treatment options that can help people live longer, healthier lives. Stem cell transplant is a standard of care for eligible patients. However, over half of patients newly d...

Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) are considered highly susceptible to bacteria and viruses due to immunocompromisation. Now, in the post-COVID era, we are facing multiple viruses at the same time (i.e., Influenza, RSV, and COVID). It is as important as ever for patients with CLL to continue receiving vaccinations, as well as following safety and preventive measures such as wearing...

As community care teams work to provide equitable care for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), understanding disparities as well as state and region-specific barriers that impact care is critical. CANCER BUZZ speaks with Adam Kittai, MD, hematologist, and assistant professor at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute...

Andre Harvin teases his keynote at the ACCC 49 th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit, where he will talk about innovative solutions to streamline pharmacy operations that have saved his healthcare system millions of dollars. One of those innovative solutions—robotic pharmacists.  Guest : Andre Harvin, PharmD, MS, MBA , Executive Director of Pharmacy, Oncology Services, Cone Health Ca...

Kevin Davies, author of Editing Humanity: The CRISPR Revolution and the New Era of Genome Editing , teases his keynote at the ACCC 49 th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit, where he will talk about the history of genome technology and its potential to change precision medicine.  The first FDA approval for a CRISPR therapy is imminent. But can this game-changing technology deliver saf...

As myeloproliferative neoplasms are a group of progressive blood cancers that can develop quickly into more serious hematological diseases, hear what community practices need to know about treating these patients quickly and the impact that timeliness of care can have on patient outcomes. In this episode, CANCERBUZZ speaks with Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, United Energy Resources Inc. professor of M...

The patient navigation world has a new kid on the block. Just when we thought we knew everything there was to know about navigators, the role has been reinvented by a concept so intuitive, it is difficult to believe that these navigators are not standard practice in oncology. Meet population health navigators—individuals dedicated to supporting a specific underserved population, including rural, B...

Because most cases of SCLC are diagnosed at advanced stages, it is rarely curable by the time of diagnosis. However, for some patients, treatment can improve quality of life. Multidisciplinary care coordination is especially important with aggressive cases of SCLC, as there may be several unique challenges to be addressed. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Ahmed Al-Hazzouri, MD, Medical Oncologist, Ryan Schroe...

Treatment for patients with CLL has undergone a dramatic transformation with the approval of oral oncolytics. Oral oncolytic treatment for CLL offers many benefits such as convenience and effectiveness.  However, with the introduction of oral oncolytic treatments, cancer care teams face new challenges (e.g., medication adherence, prescription interactions, toxicity management, financial burdens, a...

To celebrate its 100 th episode, CANCER BUZZ talks to ACCC Board Member and Treasurer Dr. Nadine Barrett about her journey with the Association—from submitting an article to ACCC's peer-reviewed journal, to receiving a 2017 ACCC Innovator Award, to development of the ASCO-ACCC Just ASK™ implicit bias training. Dr. Barret shares how ACCC is helping improve diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts i...

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), while rare, are blood cancers that carry a significant symptom burden and can develop aggressively. Hear why community practices need to monitor symptoms carefully and about a new tool that can help assess symptoms more accurately and help care teams form treatment plans. In this episode, CANCERBUZZ speaks with Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, United Energy Resources...

As interest continues to build around multi-cancer early detection, hear what care teams need to know about the technology and the legislative outlook for coverage for this revolutionary testing. CANCER BUZZ speaks with Anna Howard, principal of Policy Development, Access to and Quality of Care at American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network, and Jeff Allen, president and CEO of Friends of Canc...

Many patients with SCLC face a high symptom burden, poor prognosis, and adherence challenges due to treatment-related adverse events, stigmatization, and emotional distress. Multidisciplinary care coordination and timely diagnosis are critical in the health outcomes of patients with SCLC. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Gustavo Cumbo-Nacheli, MD, Interventional Pulmonologist and Critical Care Medicine and Pu...

Patients with cancer who live in rural areas face many barriers to care, which can limit both their access and adherence to care, including traveling long distances, lack of insurance coverage, and a multitude of other social and emotional determinants. Hear how to leverage the skills of a multidisciplinary team to support patients in overcoming these barriers. CANCER BUZZ speaks with Emily Smith,...

Understanding how to navigate difficult conversations with patients facing advanced-stage cancer is an important part of shared decision making and ensuring patients feel engaged with their treatment plan. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Sunandana Chandra, MD, MS, and associate professor of Hematology and Oncology at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill., on her approach to engaging pa...

Many patients with SCLC have a high symptom burden, poor prognosis, adherence challenges due to treatment-related adverse events, stigmatization, and emotional distress. Clinical trials are taking place across the country for patients with all stages of small cell lung cancer. CANCER BUZZ spoke to David Waterhouse, MD, MPH, Medical Oncologist and Hematologist at the Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Cent...

In the last of a three-part series on "changing the culture of oncology," Dr. Juneja says it was the realization that he was explaining the same concepts over and over to patients that led him to look to social media as an education platform—a way to share information broadly, help keep people up to date on new advances, and address medical misinformation.  Guest: Sanjay Juneja, MD Chief of Oncolo...