Persisting Gaps in Cancer Care Affect Patient Outcomes

(July 18, 2017)—The Cancer Support Community (CSC), an international nonprofit organization, today released a research report that that found the scarcity of communication between patients and their care team about cost-of-care results in financial toxicity for patients living with cancer. In addition, nearly half (47 percent) of patients are identified as at risk for clinically significant levels of depression.

PHILADELPHIA

Key findings from the report:

• 93 percent of patients said quality of life is a very important factor when weighing treatment options
• 73 percent of patients reported not discussing the cost of care with their care team
• 43 percent of patients noted lack of transportation as an obstacle stopping them from participating in a clinical trial
• 30 percent of patients surveyed said they depleted their savings because of treatment costs

is the second report

published by CSC’s Research and Training Institute using its repository of clinical data from the Cancer Experience Registry that includes over 12,000 patients and caregivers of 45 cancer types.

Insight into the Patient Experience: Cancer Experience Registry Report 2017

“Traditional big data helps us personalize treatment, but when you do not account for the patient’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors it can derail the entire treatment plan leading to poor quality of care and patient outcomes,” said Linda House, RN, BSN, MSM, President of CSC.

The Registry found that patients’ adherence to treatment is poorer when emotional distress and financial burden are high. Specifically,

patients experiencing financial burden and at high risk for depression were significantly more likely to have suboptimal adherence than patients experiencing only financial burden.

“This report will help the patient and their care team identify areas where they can communicate better on,” Joanne Buzaglo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Research and Training of CSC. “Furthermore, the tremendous growth of the Registry, demonstrate the need from patients and caregivers wanting to connect and share their cancer experience.”

“Knowing that I am not alone in my cancer experience has been one of the things that keep me encouraged and motivated,” said LaKeesha Murray, a cancer survivor. “Through the Cancer Experience Registry, I can make a difference by sharing my story and helping shape new programs for those at CSC of Greater Philadelphia and worldwide, while advancing research for myself and others living with Cancer.”

Along with the

report, CSC is releasing data from 10 Specialty Registries to identify the unique challenges of each cancer diagnosis including patients with breast cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, lung cancer, melanoma, metastatic breast cancer, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and stomach (gastric and gastro-esophageal) cancer, as well as caregivers.

Insight

Featured speakers at the report release include:

• Yousuf Zafar, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Public Policy Duke Cancer Institute
• Craig E. Cole, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
• LaKeesha Murray, Breast Cancer Patient, Member of the Cancer Support Community of Greater Philadelphia

Follow the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #CancerInsights.

For more information about Insight into the Patient Experience: Cancer Experience Registry Report 2017, please visit:

www.cancersupportcommunity.org/RegistryIndexReport2017

Watch the release live starting at 2 p.m. ET:

https://www.facebook.com/CancerSupportCommunity