NCCN NewsNCCN Patient Advocacy Summit Examines Disparities in Cancer Care and Explores SolutionsNCCN Oncology Research Program Awarded $2 Million From Lilly to Study Mechanisms of Resistance to CDK4 &amp; 6 Inhibitors in Breast Cancer Treatment
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2019)

Disparities in Cancer Care and Explores SolutionsNCCN hosted a Patient Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, on December 10, 2018, focused on advocating for equity in cancer care.The summit included case studies, presentations, and panel discussions, all highlighting the barriers that prevent various populations from achieving better outcomes in cancer care.The speakers also discussed some of the work currently underway to help mitigate those issues."Cancer care practices are improving every day, but we have to work together to make sure those advancements are accessible to everyone," said Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN."People with cancer can be excluded from optimal care for many reasons, including geographic location, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation and identity, insurance status, unconscious bias, and other aspects beyond their control.That's why NCCN provides opportunities to learn about the causes of these disparities and to share best practices for addressing them."The summit included a keynote address from Lynette Bonar, RN, MBA, BSN, FACHE, CEO of the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation-the only hospital on Navajo land-along with Brandon Canyon, who was his mother's primary caregiver before she passed away due to complications associated with her cancer treatment.They talked about the significant cancer burden facing the Navajo Nation, where 85% of homes are contaminated by uranium from abandoned mines.Navajos living near those mines have higher levels of uranium in their bones than 95% of the American population.Those who develop cancer then need to travel more than 100 miles in order to receive treatment.The burden of traveling for care was a repeated theme throughout the day.For many rural residents, having to travel 50 miles or more for care can be prohibitive.Potential solutions, including treatment online or by phone, often mean relying on infrastructure and technology that may not exist in their area."Community oncology practices, already serving the majority of cancer patients in the United States, are developing various processes to further extend access to all populations," said Natalie Dickson, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer, Tennessee Oncology."We see the path to success.It will require proper funding and leveraging technology for enhanced interdisciplinary teams, policies supporting health and wellness, and solutions to the high cost of drugs.""Equity requires a reduction in the variability of care regardless of where the cancer is treated," said Christine Weldon, MBA, Director, Center for Business Models in Healthcare; Adjunct Instructor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine."It's imperative to follow evidence-based guidelines for treating the patient's entire set of needs.At the same time, care must be personalized to the patient's cancer profile, co-morbidities, practical, supportive, emotional and physical needs."Some of those needs could include practicalities like childcare, out-of-pocket expenses, missed paychecks, plus the financial toxicity concerns from the treatment itself, according to the panelists."Socioeconomic factors play a major role in a patient's ability to access quality cancer care for pancreatic cancer, including access to resources, clinical trials, and molecular profiling," explained Cassadie Moravek, Associate Director of Clinical Initiatives, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)."PanCAN strives to overcome these barriers and support pancreatic cancer patients through our Patient Central call center, where our Patient Central Associates provide personalized information tailored to each patient's needs and concerns.That includes access to xxvii