October 2021 – COA Patient Advocacy Network News Bulletin

Advocacy Chats – Insightful Conversations on Policy Issues & Cancer Research

Educational Briefing: 340B Drug Pricing Program and Patient Impact Educational Briefing – On November 1 at 2:00 p.m. ET, join COA’s Executive Director, Ted Okon, Director of Patient Advocacy & Education, Rose Gerber, and President of the Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations’ Madelaine Feldman, MD, as they discuss the 340B program and its implications for patients. The briefing will provide an opportunity to discuss the key issues of concern to patients and potential legislative solutions to reform 340B so that we can ensure program discounts are helping patients who need them the most. Register Today.

Getting to Know Your Oncology Care Team: Oncology Social Workers – On November 10 at 12:00 p.m. ET, Abra Kelson, LICSW, OSW-C, of Northwest Medical Specialties, joins Rose Gerber of COA to discuss the daily life of a social worker and how you can better take advantage of all the resources your care provider’s social workers have to offer. Abra and Rose will also cover the expanded role of social workers during COVID, how social workers interact with patient advocacy and support organizations, and what you can expect when talking to a social worker about your mental health or emotional needs. Register Today.

ICYMI: Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Breast cancer, the most common cancer in women, now stands at the forefront of public awareness, as more tools and resources are available to help women navigate a breast cancer diagnosis. COA’s Rose Gerber and Stacy Lewis, chief program officer and deputy chief executive of the Young Survival Coalition, discussed current breast cancer prevention and treatment challenges, existing resources at your disposal, connecting with underserved audiences, and how the Young Survival Coalition supports young adults affected by breast cancer. Stream it on @OncologyCOA’s YouTube channel today.

Chapter Spotlight – Tennessee Oncology

As one of the largest practices in the CPAN Advocacy Army, Tennessee Oncology and its 200 staff members serve more than 25,000 new patients each year across 50 locations in the Volunteer State, working across their networks to provide the highest quality cancer for their patients.

Over the course of its 35 years of service to Tennesseans, Tennessee Oncology offers patients access to premier care without the added burden of long-distance travel. Their clinical trial network allows their practices to deliver world-class treatment to patients in their care.

Recognizing the significance of community oncology for patients in the state and nation, Tennessee Oncology members have teamed up with CPAN to preserve the practice and maintain a premier standard of care. The CPAN Chapter Advocacy Leader for Tennessee Oncology is April Brake, Patient AR Manager. Their advocacy efforts illuminate the national policies that negatively impact patients with cancer, including Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) regulations. Using CPAN materials, Tennessee Oncology works to educate their patients on the challenges PBMs create, advocate for reduced unexpected out-of-pocket expenses, and ensure cancer care is available to those in need. – Learn more about CPAN’s Advocacy Army and read Tennessee Oncology’s full story.

Cancer News You Can Use

Health Disparities Emerge Around Cancer Screening Eligibility – HealthITAnalytics 10/07

According to the results of a simulated pancreatic cancer clinical trial screening, Black patients were significantly more likely than White patients to be excluded from clinical trials due to a wide range of eligibility criteria, creating health disparities.

AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Drug Shows Promise In Clinical Trials – VeryWell Health 10/06

A treatment that links a monoclonal antibody to a chemotherapy drug is showing promise as a treatment for certain types of breast cancer.

Exercise May Help to Ease ‘Chemo Brain’ – The New York Times 10/06

Regular exercise may help lessen “chemo brain” among women being treated for breast cancer, according to a large-scale new study of the associations between physical activity, chemotherapy, and cognition. The study, which involved more than 500 women with breast cancer, finds that those who were the most active before, during, or after their treatment were the least likely to develop the memory decline and foggy thinking that characterize chemo brain.

Alcohol Is The Breast Cancer Risk No One Wants To Talk About – WIRED 10/05

As October ushers in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the social media campaign Drink Less for Your Breasts stands out like a red flag against a cheerful tide of pink ribbons, especially the ones printed on labels of alcoholic beverages. This is the time of year when some craft brewers tint their beer pink, and rosé bottles and cocktail menus display the iconic ribbon, touting companies’ donations to breast cancer organizations. Drink Less for Your Breasts reminds women that alcohol contributes to breast cancer risk.

Model Shows Periodic MRIs Cost-Effective For Breast Cancer Screening – HealthDay 10/05

In a simulated screening protocol, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) breast cancer screening is cost-effective for women with extremely dense breasts at a four-year interval, according to a study published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. H. Amarens Geuzinge, from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues used the MISCAN-breast microsimulation model to estimate long-term effects and costs associated with several screening protocols containing mammography and/or MRI.

Community Oncology 101 – Spotlight on Cancer Care: Enhancing Total Well-Being

As COVID-19 cases surged during the initial waves of the pandemic, cancer screenings declined rapidly and remain at dangerously low levels. To reverse this dangerous trend, COA launched the Time to Screen campaign to make it easy for anyone to learn how to schedule an appointment at a convenient location and about the importance of early cancer detection. Check out the Time to Screen advocacy toolkit for social posts, newsletters, graphics, and more that you can share to remind folks that it’s Time to Screen!