CANCER BUZZ

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...

While advancements in cancer diagnostics and genomics continue to accelerate, the need to centralize and improve coordination around biomarker testing is more important than ever. Hear how precision medicine stewards are helping to bridge the gaps and challenges associated with cancer diagnostics and biomarker testing. In this episode, CANCERBUZZ speaks with Crystal Enstad, MBA, BSN, RN, OCN at Sa...

In the second of a three-part series on "changing the culture of oncology," Dr. Sanjay Juneja shares three technologies he's excited about and why—technology that detects circulating tumor DNA to reveal if cancer is present, technology that facilitates real-time testing of a specific treatment on a patient's tumor cells before initiation of the anti-cancer regimen, and more. Guest: Sanjay Juneja,...

This first of a three-part series on "changing the culture of oncology," offers a brief look at how treatment has evolved with precision medicine, targeted therapies, and the activation of our own immune systems to destroy cancerous cells. Dr. Sanjay Juneja also explores how—with many cancers now being treated like a chronic disease—it may be time to cancel the term "a cure for cancer." Guest: San...

Remote patient monitoring involves transmission of health data, such as vital signs, from the patient's home to healthcare providers via a wearable device, mobile app, and/or home hub. Studies have shown promising results for this technology, including improvements in health equity and reductions in hospitalizations. This quality improvement project evaluated the Current Health platform to remotel...

Oral cancer therapies for breast cancer offer many benefits such as convenience and effectiveness, but also can add financial burden. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Aimee Hoch, LSW, MSW, Oncology Financial Navigator at Grandview Health in Sellersville, PA. Hear as our expert discusses how and when to screen patients, and then connect them to available resources to better support patients' financial needs. T...

Live from the ACCC 39 th National Oncology Conference, CANCER BUZZ interviews Erika DeBoer, the Chief Nursing Officer at Sanford Health, about the system's data-driven approach to manage clinical workforce scheduling and staffing needs. Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the country, is leveraging technology and exploring new care delivery models to solve workforce challenges, enha...

Live from the ACCC 39th National Oncology Conference, Lailea Noel, PhD, MSW, joins the CANCER BUZZ podcast to discuss the topic of her workshop today: building sustainable coalitions to support the cancer care community. During our conversation, Dr. Noel breaks down how to build trust and earn the respect of under-represented patient populations in the community, including Black, Latinx, Asian, an...

Billie J. Baldwin, MA, MSW, LCSW-C, joins CANCER BUZZ to talk about the development of Medstar's Regional Staff Support Program. This program, which was created to address burnout and improve retention rates, provides staff with an opportunity to participate in monthly employee celebrations, encourages peer-to-peer recognition, and enhances communication among associates. Since its implementation,...

As the ACCC Financial Advocacy Network engages key stakeholders to update its Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines using a collaborative, consensus-based process, gaining buy-in across the oncology community at-large (e.g., the multidisciplinary care team, administrators, payers, and other organizations) is necessary to ensuring positive financial health for all patients with cancer no matter wh...

In 2018, ACCC developed the Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines to support cancer programs and practices by proactively addressing patients' financial concerns along the cancer care continuum, so patients can access high-quality care for a better quality of life. As the healthcare landscape continues to change and the role of oncology financial advocates evolves, the network sought to create ne...

The successful integration of oral oncolytics into practice depends on collaboration of the multidisciplinary cancer care team to guide patients through treatment with optimal medical, financial, and psychosocial support. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Dr. Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Clinical Research at Fred Hutch in Seattle, WA. Hear as our expert describes process improvement strategi...

As oral anticancer medications become a common treatment option, patient adherence to medication is essential to ensuring positive clinical outcomes. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Dr. Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Director, Center for Breast Cancer at the Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, and Sandra Cuellar, PharmD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pharm...

While remote monitoring platforms have been used effectively throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the burden on patients and healthcare facilities around the country, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn., has been using the technology in a different capacity—with its patients on CAR T-cell therapy. To avoid a lengthy inpatient stay, these patients are seen daily in Vanderbilt'...