CANCER BUZZ

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...

As care teams seek new ways to engage and support patients with rare cancers, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Jim Palma, executive director of TargetCancer Foundation, a patient-founded nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting patients living with, and researchers focused on, rare cancers. In this episode, hear about the fully remote TRACK (Target Rare Cancer Knowledge) clinical trial and its unique...

Building awareness of rare cancers, such as NTRK gene fusion-positive cancers, is critical to improving access to biomarker testing and new treatment options for patients. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Susan Spinosa, president and patient founder of NTRKers, an organization created to support patients with NTRK fusion-positive cancer, about her care journey and the importance of testing...

Personalizing care goals to account for a patient's values, preferences, or circumstances can make a significant difference in share   decision-making and treatment planning. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Melissa Kah Poh Loh, MBBCh, BAO, assistant professor of Geriatric Hematology and Oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center's Wilmot Cancer Institute about strategies to op...

Significant declines in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer have increased challenges that impact patient care. Many patients with small cell lung cancer have a high symptom burden, poor prognosis, adherence challenges due to treatment-related adverse events, stigmatization, and emotional distress. The team at Atrium Health's Levine Cancer Institute is t...

Mary B. Battaglia has been practicing clinical hypnosis for 10 years, working with clients to address many different issues like anxiety and stress. She's supported people with different medical issues, including brain, breast, lung, prostate, and skin cancers. Additionally, Battaglia was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2021 and has used medical hypnosis to as a complimentary therapy. ...

While there are many factors why patients with acute myeloid leukemia are ineligible for allogeneic stem cell transplant, such as age, financial hurdles, or other comorbidities, these factors are often compounded by social determinants of health, which can act as a significant barrier to consolidation therapy and long-term remission for these patients. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Keri...

Working under the hypothesis that a subset of de novo oligometastatic breast cancer patients who are treated with a combination of systemic therapy, surgery, and radiation or ablation of metastatic sites will have long-term distant metastasis free and overall survival, this multi-cohort, prospective, nationwide registry study will enroll newly diagnosed oligometastatic (operationally defined by lo...

As biomarker testing can play a critical role in the diagnosis of rare cancers, such as NTRK gene fusion-positive cancers, hear what care teams need to know about identifying patients who may be eligible for this testing. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Eric Konnick, MD, MS, associate professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and associate director of Genetics and Solid Tumor Laborat...

Members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team—and cancer program leadership—recognize the importance of taking care of one's own mental health to be able to provide the best possible care to patients. Yet, many care team members are hesitant to share sensitive information and/or ask for support. Breaking down the social stigma that is often still associated with seeking mental health services...

Remote patient monitoring is a type of telehealth that allows patients to share data about their health with their care team in between clinic visits, including symptoms and vitals. Symptom tracking and monitoring technologies allow better management of treatment side effects, in turn allowing longer administration of treatments and improved clinical outcomes. While advantages to remote patient mo...

As myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) carry a heavy symptom burden which can significantly impact a patient's quality of life, hear how multidisciplinary care and psycho-social support can help alleviate this burden for patients. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Sarah Everette, LCSW and oncology social worker at Baptist Health Louisville in Kentucky about how these types of support and co...

The goal of treatment for most patients with myelofibrosis is to relieve symptoms. A provider will use a formula to assign a risk category (indicating aggressiveness) for the disease. Myelofibrosis categorized as low risk may not require treatment. Instead, a provider would monitor a patient's health through regular checkup to watch for signs of disease progression. For those patients with interme...