The Impact of Health Equity on Cancer Care

On August 10, 2022, Lauren Chatalian, MSW, LCSW, and Rose Gerber explored the psychosocial impact of a cancer diagnosis on a patient, their family, and friends. Chatalian, the director of advocacy at CancerCare, shared ways to promote effective communication between parents/guardians and children of families impacted by cancer in a developmentally appropriate manner. The chat focused on navigating practical concerns families may experience throughout the cancer continuum, such as loss of income, new health restrictions, and more.

On July 13 at 12 p.m. ET, COA’s Director of Patient Advocacy and Education Rose Gerber spoke with Jill Pollander, RN, MSN, the vice president of patient services at the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). NORD conducts research into lesser known and new diseases, including cancer, to help physicians and patients achieve better outcomes. Additionally, NORD helps patients access the necessary care and treatment for their rare diagnoses, ensuring that these patients receive care no matter where they are. Currently, NORD assists almost 10,000 patients with treatment for their rare diseases.

On June 8, 2022, Judy Pearson, a triple negative breast cancer survivor, founder and executive director of A 2nd Act, and author of From Shadows to Life: A Biography of the Cancer Survivorship Movement, joined Rose Gerber to share her insight on the history and current state of cancer survivorship. The cancer survivorship movement began in 1986. Prior to the 1970s, only 50 percent of those diagnosed with cancer survived their disease. And because of the fear that cancer was contagious, survivors lived as pariahs and often faced employment discrimination. Through persistent advocacy from patients, survivors, and physicians, cancer survivors came to be seen as normal, healthy citizens.

May is National Clinical Trials Month. During this month’s CPAN Advocacy Chat, Rose Gerber, COA's Director of Patient Advocacy and Education, was joined by Dinesh Kapur, MD, a medical oncologist, Director of Clinical Research at Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology Associates, and the physician lead for OneCouncil, an initiative of OneOncology (a coalition of community oncology cancer centers).

On April 13, 2022, Rose Gerber spoke with Alan Balch, PhD, about the effects of discrimination in the health care system and what we can do to increase equity and decrease discrimination. Dr. Balch is the CEO of the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) and National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF), two organizations that are dedicated to strengthening patient voices in health care. Dr. Balch discussed the current work that his two organizations are undertaking to increase health equity, including the Trust and Equity Project, along with steps that you can take to make the health care systems in your area a more welcoming place.