CANCER BUZZ

Since 2014, the widespread use of germline and somatic testing in gynecologic oncology has dramatically increased. The use of genetic testing can support actionable changes which may influence treatment decisions. Test results can inform risk for other malignancies and prompt preventive screenings for at-risk relatives. Despite an increasing awareness of the benefits of genetic testing, many patie...

Coordination of care for patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, particularly those who are ineligible for transplant, can impact access to specialist care, clinical trials, and cancer programs with advanced capabilities to treat patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Geoffrey Uy, MD, professor of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Leukemia at Washingto...

 Live this week from the ACCC 40th National Oncology Conference, CANCER BUZZ  interviews Doug Flora, MD about AI in Precision Oncology, the first- ever peer-reviewed journal on the topic. The journal shares meaningful information on the evolution of these tools, especially for clinicians and decision makers to help make a case for artificial intelligence. Guest:  Doug Flora, MD Editor-in-Chief, AI...

The oncology community is facing staffing shortages across disciplines and specialties, as well as pressure from organizations and individuals for clinicians to practice at the top of their license and nonclinical staff to work at their highest skill set; that's where technology can help. Live this week from the ACCC 40th National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ interviews Karline Paul, Ass...

The science of oncology is rapidly evolving, as cancer programs and practices around the US continue to make cutting-edge discoveries in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In addition, there is an increased spotlight on the effects social drivers of health have on cancer care delivery, as health equity initiatives continue to permeate the oncology landscape. Building on these successes, NCI re...

Live this week from the ACCC 40th National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ interviews Debbie Rimmele, Nurse Retention Specialist at the Loyola University Medical Center, about recruiting strategies and her session at the NOC: Looking Under the Hood of the Employment Process.    Once candidates are in the hiring queue, there are many internal processes that need to go smoothly to offer poten...

Live this week from the ACCC 40th National Oncology Conference (NOC), CANCER BUZZ interviews Steve Kennedy, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Tennessee Oncology, about his session: Leadership Engagement and Sustainment During Challenging Times.    The Tennessee Oncology Leadership Academy launched in July 2020 with the purpose of building a culture of collaborative and agile leaders. Sin...

Live this week from the ACCC 40th National Oncology Conference, CANCER BUZZ  interviews Dr. Michael Gieske about best practices to increase lung cancer screenings and ACCC's Rural Appalachian Lung Screening Initiative.   ACCC launched the Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance (the Alliance) in partnership with several state oncology societies representing the Appalachian region. The focus is on im...

CANCER BUZZ previews the sessions, people and topics of this week's ACCC 40th National Oncology Conference. We interview Kathy Oubre, MS, CEO of the Pontchartrain Canter Center, about helping patients overcome access barriers to biomarker testing.  Guest:  Kathy W. Oubre, MS Chief Executive Officer Pontchartrain Cancer Center Hammond, Louisiana   Resources:  Access to Biomarker Testing - American...

CANCER BUZZ previews the sessions, people and topics of this week's ACCC 40th National Oncology Conference. We interview Dr. Margaret Liang, about ACCC's Financial Advocacy Network (FAN), and the Financial Advocacy Services guidelines.   Guest:  Margaret Liang, MD, MSHPM Associate Director, Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center Los Angeles, CA   Resources:  ACCC Financial Advo...

Bladder cancer cases continue to rise regardless of treatment advances. In addition, disparities in bladder cancer persist, especially with respect to race. There is a  documented connection between patient demographics and the impact on health outcomes. ACCC launched the Addressing Disparities in Bladder Cancer Care project to help cancer centers apply evidence-based health literacy and shared de...

It is important for the cancer team to be able to recognize what a small cell might look like— such as central location of the tumor, bulky adenopathy generally. Sometimes patients present with unexplained weight loss and/or hemoptysis because of the central location of the tumor. It is important to be able to pick up on risk factors and understand the importance from symptoms to diagnosis and dia...

This cancer program used a business intelligence-enabled dashboard to collect and analyze data on emergency department (ED) visits, admits, and discharges. These data were then used to improve patient triage and evaluation through development of an Express Symptom Management program. After targeted in-service training and education to clinical teams and patients on utilization of the new program,...

As geography and regional differences can play a major role in disparities in cancer care, learn how cancer programs can collaborate with local community outreach organizations to improve access to care and support underserved populations. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Farrukh T. Awan, MD, MS, professor of Internal Medicine and director of Lymphoid Malignancies at the Harold C. Simmons...

Isolation is a common concern among caregivers. Studies show that 40% to 70% of family caregivers experience clinical symptoms of depression. The lack of social interaction and stimulation from individuals other than their care recipient, especially when cognitive impairment is present, can be an undeniable trigger for loneliness. Addressing isolation is critical and any way that caregivers can co...

Adding a clinical trials navigator to this practice team required a business case that demonstrated return on investment. After a successful onboarding, this navigator is now the point person to help identify patients appropriate for clinical trials and to help busy clinicians with enrollment criteria and trial selection.   Guest : Carrie Friedman, BSN, RN, OCN Clinical Trials Navigator Virginia C...

Lipson Cancer Institute adapted the University of Washington's Collaborative Care model to embed counseling services into oncology and palliative care across 6 clinic locations. This model allows patients with cancer to receive counseling for depression, anxiety, and other psycho-social concerns while in active treatment and survivorship, eliminating many barriers to care. Counseling is provided i...

Every day caregivers face emotional, physical, and logistical challenges caring for their loved ones. But what about the toll on the caregivers themselves? Ensuring empowered caregivers involves educating and informing them, engaging them in planning and decision-making, and reassuring them that their role is manageable and worthwhile. Any steps providers can take to combat the invisibility of car...

While next-generation sequencing is recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network for biomarker testing for all patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), uptake among community oncology programs and practices is suboptimal. To standardize comprehensive biomarker testing in patients with NSCLC, Oncology Hematology Care, Inc., developed and implemented a 1-year quality im...

The rapid evolution of cancer care delivery toward multi-agent regimens, oral and/or combination therapies, and at-home treatment administration has made cancer caregiving extremely complex. The Caregiver Clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering provides support to people who are having difficulty coping with the demands of being a caregiver. The purpose of this clinic is to help individuals maximize th...

Between 4% to 15% of patients with cancer who are treated with a class of medications called immune checkpoint inhibitors experience immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and insulin-deficient diabetes. Delayed access, diagnosis, and management of irAEs are often causes of preventable hospital admissions in cancer patients. At Duke Cancer Institute, the...

Many patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) have 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 to achieve positive health outcomes for this patient population. Nurses play an important role in the direct care of patients. CANC...

For several years, this healthcare system struggled to find a sustainable program to perform outreach to patients with outstanding orders for lung, breast, and colon cancer screenings. A financial analysis of associated expenses, reimbursement, payer mixture, and downstream revenue of these screening efforts demonstrated positive net return on investment, allowing for expansion and implementation...

Caregivers experience higher levels of financial, emotional, and physical health difficulties than non-caregivers and are more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms and mental health problems. The Caregivers Clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is the first of its kind and provides comprehensive psychosocial care to family members and friends of patients who experience significant...

Learn how the creation of the first advanced practice radiation therapist (APRT) role in the United States established a new model of inpatient care, elevating the radiation therapy skill set and allowing for intervention at key points along the radiation oncology care pathway. Outcomes include improved quality, efficiency, and time and cost savings toward value-based care. Working in tandem with...