February 2022 – COA Patient Advocacy Network News Bulletin
Advocacy Chats – Insightful Conversations on Policy Issues & Cancer Research
The Financial Crisis of Cancer: A CPAN Advocacy Chat
A cancer diagnosis is life-changing. Patients must confront the emotional toll, rearrange their lives to accommodate treatment, adjust to new physical challenges and lean on friends and family for help. One of the biggest changes is adjusting to the financial burden. On February 2, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, join COA’s Rose Gerber and Family Reach’s CEO, Carla Tardif to learn how Family Reach is helping cancer patients through emergency relief, financial coaching, and more. Video coming soon
ICYMI: The Crystal Ball for Cancer Policy in 2022: A CPAN Advocacy Chat
The 2022 midterm elections have policymakers across the political spectrum focused on passing wish list items and reform packages. As members of Congress look to address pharmacy benefit manager misbehavior and hospital consolidation, and pharmaceutical companies argue for increased transparency from the 340B drug pricing program, how might cancer policy be impacted? COA’s Executive Director, Ted Okon, and Director of Patient Advocacy and Education, Rose Gerber, sat down to discuss what this election year could mean for patients and providers. – Stream it on OncologyCOA’s YouTube channel today.
Understanding Advocacy in a Community Oncology Setting – The Different Channels of Advocacy
Advocacy is important because it connects constituents with the people who have the power to make decisions that impact communities. Advocacy happens through different channels. One is digital, such as calling, sending an email, or posting a message on social media to an elected official. Another is in person, meeting with an elected official – either on your own or with a group of advocates – or arranging site visits. Another involves traditional media, writing letters to the editor or opinion editorials, and speaking with reporters. No matter which avenue is used to draw attention to a policy or cause, the key audience is always policymakers.
Because there are so many ways to be heard, advocacy is accessible to anyone, regardless of age, race, religion, orientation, or political views. Advocacy is what injects real people’s perspectives and experiences into the policymaking process, ensuring that our country remains representative of, and responsive to, a broad array of opinions.
- Learn more about community oncology, the challenges facing practices, and how you can get involved by visiting CPAN’s Education & Resources library.
Cancer News You Can Use
Racial Gaps Persist in Cancer Care — Here’s How We Can Close Them
The Hill 01/24
Black cancer patients experience 173.6 deaths per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 152.4 per 100,000, according to the National Cancer Institute. How do we fix our broken system and bring cures to all patients? Fifty years since the National Cancer Act, our country needs new approaches if we are to democratize cancer care.
You Don’t Have to Smoke to Get Lung Cancer
HealthDay 01/22
Aside from smoking, “there are many other risk factors, and risk factors we don’t know,” said Dr. Aaron Mansfield, an oncologist who specializes in treating lung cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “All you need to be at risk of developing lung cancer is a lung.” Exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the odds of developing lung cancer. Other risk factors include a family history of lung cancer and exposure to radon gas, asbestos and other cancer-causing substances.
Alcohol a Direct Cause of Cancer Say Oxford Researchers
Medscape 01/20
Oxford researchers say they have confirmed that alcohol is a direct cause of cancer, emphasizing how their findings reinforce the need to lower levels of alcohol consumption in the population for cancer prevention. The authors point out that with alcohol consumption rising, particularly in rapidly developing countries such as China, there is an “urgent need to understand how alcohol affects disease risks in different populations”.
Cancer Mortality Rates Continue to Decline Amid ‘Major Progress’ in Lung Cancer Early Detection and Treatment
CNN 01/12
Cancer mortality rates have been dropping for nearly two decades, aided by “major progress” in the early detection and treatment options for lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society’s annual report on cancer statistics. The overall cancer death rate dropped by about a third (32%) from its peak in 1991 to 2019, from about 215 deaths for every 100,000 people to about 146, averting about 3.5 million deaths during that time.
Nearly Two Million Cases of Cancer Likely to Be Diagnosed In 2022: Report
ABC News 01/12
Nearly 2 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed and some 609,000 people will likely die from cancer in the U.S. in 2022, according to a new report. The annual report from the American Cancer Society estimates that 1,918,030 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer, equivalent to 5,250 new cases being detected every day. This is up from approximately 1.8 million new cases that likely occurred in 2021
Community Oncology 101 – Site of Service – The Value of Community Oncology
Where patients receive cancer care matters. Community oncology practices work to ensure that all patients receive high-quality, affordable cancer care close to home. Find out more in this Cancer Policy Minute with Ted Okon.
Resources for Chapters
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer screening rates rapidly declined, and while screening rates have begun to increase, they remain below pre-pandemic levels. How can you help remind people that it’s time to schedule their screening? Check out the Time to Screen Advocacy Toolkit to learn how you can get involved.
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