CANCER BUZZ

CANCER BUZZ features fresh perspectives on hot topics in oncology care delivery. CANCER BUZZ is where stakeholders from the front lines of care to the C-suite, from research to the registry, from chairside to benchside, talk about top-of-mind questions and real-world impact.

Optimizing Germline and Somatic Testing in Prostate Cancer 07/01/2025

Better Bladder Cancer Care, Closer to Home 06/24/2025

Better Bladder Cancer Care, Closer to Home Navigating the growing complexity of bladder cancer care is essential to improving patient access and treatment closer to home. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Suzanne Merrill, MD, urologic oncologist at Colorado Urology about barriers and solutions to delivering high-quality bladder cancer care in community settings. CANCER BUZZ also speaks with Patrick Hensley, MD, urologist at University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, about implementing the Delivering High-Quality Bladder Cancer Care infographic in the community setting. Created by ACCC and BCAN, the infographic describes the 10 elements of excellent bladder cancer care. Cancer programs that align their practices with these guidelines can join a public registry so that patients and caregivers can identify quality bladder cancer care close to where they live. “The best strategies and tools to deliver high quality bladder cancer care out in the community lie first and foremost with having a bladder cancer clinician. It could be a urologist, it could be a urologic oncologist, could even be a medical oncologist or a radiation oncologist...their discipline doesn't matter as much as [having] the core clinical expert that is excited and dedicated to developing and instituting a comprehensive bladder cancer program.” - Suzanne Merrill, MD, FACS “Everybody assumes comprehensive care is being delivered at academic university settings, which it is, but there's so much...bladder cancer care being performed out in the community. So [the question is] how can we achieve comprehensive programs out in the community?” - Suzanne Merril, MD, FACS “I think it's really important that subspecialists and community providers work together to streamline those referrals and anticipate when the patients are coming in and what their needs are going to be, from a procedural standpoint, imaging standpoint, etc, so that you can avoid some of those undue delays in diagnosis and treatment.” - Patrick Hensley, MD Suzanne Merrill, MD, FACS Urologic Oncologist Colorado Urology Aurora, CO Patrick Hensley, MD Urologist Markey Cancer Center – Urology University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Resources: Funder Statement This program is supported by Astellas Pfizer Alliance, EMD Serano, and Gilead. /episode/index/show/8c14e234-7a96-47a3-84da-b3cf4f090e2f/id/37090055

ASCO E-Poster: Immune-Related Adverse Events 06/20/2025

Implementing a Structured, Scalable Geriatric Oncology Program 06/17/2025

Shaw at Home: An Oncology Specific Home and Community-Based Palliative Care Program 06/10/2025

The Coordinator’s Perspective – Driving Research Growth From the Ground Up 06/05/2025

Improving Care Between Clinic Visits: A Sustainable Model for Remote Patient Monitoring 05/29/2025

5 Ways to Improve Oncology Clinical Trials 05/20/2025

5 Ways to Improve Oncology Clinical Trials On October 29-30, 2024, the ACCC Community Oncology Research Institute (ACORI) hosted the Community Oncology Inclusive Clinical Trial Design Summit in Arlington, VA. The event brought together stakeholders including academic and community cancer center practitioners and researchers, advocacy organizations, government agencies, and industry partners to discuss strategies to increase patient access to clinical trials in the community setting. Five priority areas were identified that characterize actionable strategies to promote fair and accessible clinical trial design that is representative of all patients with cancer: strengthening the clinical trial workforce, optimizing trial design, engaging communities outside of clinical trial interactions, decentralizing clinical trials, and leveraging artificial intelligence/digital health tools for increased access and efficiency. ACCC is committed to providing support in these priority areas to increase representative participation and opportunities in clinical trials for oncology patients across the US. In this episode of CANCER BUZZ, Kimberly Demirhan, MBA, BSN, RN, assistant director of education programs at ACCC, discusses the 5 priority areas identified at the ACORI Summit and ways to transform how we think about access to trials, especially leveraging AI and digital tools to do so. “We looked at optimizing trial design to reflect real world patient populations ... assessing eligibility criteria to make it more reflective of the patient populations that we see out in the community.” “[We suggest] simplifying protocols so we're not accidentally eliminating patients [due to] benign factors, and then really engaging our community providers early on in the design process.” “It’s a really important time to be addressing [AI] and looking at the opportunities we have to transform the way we think about clinical trials, how we think about the delivery and access to them.” – Kimberly Demirhan Kimberly Demirhan, MBA, BSN, RN Assistant Director, Education Programs Association of Cancer Care Centers Resources: /episode/index/show/8c14e234-7a96-47a3-84da-b3cf4f090e2f/id/36628325

Navigating Disparities and Challenges in BTC Care 05/08/2025

Housing at Risk Program (H@RP) 04/29/2025

Targeting Progress: Patient Perspective on Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Gynecologic Cancer Care 04/24/2025

Understanding and Meeting the Unique Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer 04/22/2025

Understanding and Meeting the Unique Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) face poorer cancer outcomes and experiences compared with younger and older patients, and they historically have been lost between pediatric and adult models of oncology care. The Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) is committed to providing up-to-date guidance on treating AYA patients with cancer to improve their outcomes. In this episode of CANCER BUZZ, a team from the University of North Carolina (UNC) AYA Oncology Program shares how it’s meeting the unique needs of this patient population by providing developmentally appropriate cancer care through a multidisciplinary approach, including clinical trial access and interactive infusion space; sharing resources where AYAs need additional support; and developing education about fertility and the short- and long-term impacts of cancer. “We talk about things like sleep, mental health, diet, exercise, knowing all of those aspects of life have been impacted by cancer and its treatment, and in order to have the best quality of life and best outcomes, we need to pay attention to all of those aspects of an AYA survivors’ life.” – Andrew Smitherman, MD, MS “We know that AYAs are one of the most underinsured or uninsured populations in the United States, and so that means often they are at least initially facing these diagnoses without any insurance at all to help defray the costs.” – Jacob Stein, MD, MPH “My approach [for talking about long term effects] is that patients want to be able to have the opportunity to receive information.” – Alison Manikowski, PsyD Read the full article . Guests Andrew Smitherman, MD, MSc AYA Medical Director Pediatric Oncologist UNC Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterChapel Hill, NC Jacob Stein, MD, MPH AYA Oncology Liaison Medical Oncologist UNC Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterChapel Hill, NC Alison Manikowski, PsyDAYA Program Pediatric Psychologist UNC Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterChapel Hill, NC Resources: /episode/index/show/8c14e234-7a96-47a3-84da-b3cf4f090e2f/id/36244965

Navigating Disparities and Challenges in HCC Care 04/17/2025

Navigating Disparities and Challenges in HCC Care Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) disproportionately impacts underserved and minority populations, compounded by systemic barriers in care. These populations face increased risk factors yet often experience delayed diagnoses and limited access to specialists, leading to later-stage detection. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Karen S. Waldrop, BSN, RN, OCN, ONN-CG, a GI oncology nurse navigator at UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer, and Henry Rendon, a patient diagnosed with HCC in June 2023. Together, they share insights on the vital role of multidisciplinary teams and how nurse navigators can mitigate access barriers by improving patient outreach, facilitating access to care, and guiding patients through the complexities of the health care system. “Karen, my nurse navigator, knew everything I was going through. She made sure everything was coordinated and ran smoothly. She communicated clearly and thoroughly every time. I never had to second-guess what was happening. She made sure I was prepared, not just once, but every step of the way.” - Henry Rendon, patient guest with HCC “At our institution, we have a clinic where the patient can see a medical oncologist, a liver medical physician, an interventional radiology specialist, a pharmacist… the whole gamut. If they need social work, we’ll pull in social work. If they need palliative care, we’ll pull in palliative care. And that’s in one visit. For folks with transportation issues or those who live far away, it’s truly the best way to get care.” - Karen S. Waldrop, BSN, RN, OCN, ONN-CG Karen S. Waldrop, BSN, RN, OCN, ONN-CG GI Oncology Nurse Navigator UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Birmingham, Alabama Henry Rendon Patient Guest, diagnosed with HCC Helena, Alabama Additional Resources: - https://bit.ly/4lHTpbN - https://bit.ly/42GpatW - https://bit.ly/3XT4k84 - https://bit.ly/44rgFUS /episode/index/show/8c14e234-7a96-47a3-84da-b3cf4f090e2f/id/36187230

Bridging the Gap: Women’s Health and Cancer Screening in Indigenous Communities 04/15/2025

Shared Decision-Making in CLL 04/03/2025

Pipeline Partners 03/25/2025

Screening for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) 03/20/2025

Supporting Skin Health in Patients with Breast Cancer 03/11/2025

Supporting Skin Health in Patients with Breast Cancer Dermatologic toxicities associated with oncology treatment can significantly impact quality of life and treatment adherence for patients with breast cancer. The Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) is committed to providing up-to-date guidance on managing these dermatologic side effects to enhance clinical outcomes. In this episode of CANCER BUZZ, Allison Gordon, MD, a supportive oncodermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the dermatologic toxicities associated with breast cancer treatment. Dr Gordon explores preventive measures that oncologists can implement early in the treatment course and offers alternative resources for oncology clinicians when an oncodermatologist referral is not feasible. Additionally, she highlights capivasertib, a recently approved antineoplastic drug, and reviews its associated cutaneous adverse events, along with supportive care and management strategies. Thank you to AstraZeneca for their support of this program. Allison Gordon, MD Dermatologist Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY “Because many of these medications can cause dry skin, which can be debilitating for patients... [we recommend] using a thick ointment or cream moisturizer on their damp skin after they shower... it doesn't have to be anything expensive... I always recommend that to all patients regardless of what treatment they're on.”– Allison Gordon, MD Additional Reading/Sources (https://www.accc-cancer.org/home/learn/comprehensive-cancer-care-services/dermatologic-toxicities?) (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/targeted-therapy/side-effects.html) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10569770/) (https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/EDBK_289911) (https://mascc.org/resources/mascc-guidelines/) (https://mascc.org/resources/mascc-guidelines/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33248228/) /episode/index/show/8c14e234-7a96-47a3-84da-b3cf4f090e2f/id/35549110

LIVE from AMCCBS: AI in Oncology 03/07/2025

LIVE from AMCCBS: Topline Takeaways 03/07/2025

LIVE from AMCCBS: President Una Hopkins 03/07/2025

LIVE from AMCCBS: Future of care ACCC/ASCO 03/06/2025

LIVE from AMCCBS: President Nadine J. Barrett 03/06/2025

LIVE from AMCCBS: Leading Policy Change at the State Level 03/06/2025

LIVE from AMCCBS: Clinical Research Award Winner 03/05/2025

Key Takeaways from a National Quality Improvement Initiative to Address Disparities in Bladder Cancer Care 02/25/2025

Key Takeaways from a National Quality Improvement Initiative to Address Disparities in Bladder Cancer Care Bladder cancer remains a prevalent disease with significant disparities in care, particularly in underserved populations. To address this, ACCC launched a national quality improvement initiative in three phases: 1. assessment and preparation, 2. action plan implementation, and 3. monitoring for continuous improvement. Dr. Samuel Washington, from the University of California, San Francisco, discussed the initiative’s early findings, highlighting site-specific approaches. Sustainability was a key consideration, ensuring a balance between short-term wins and long-term impact. Action plans need to be both ambitious and practical to drive meaningful change. Continuing outcome monitoring will refine strategies, and the initiative could serve as a replication model in other clinical settings and cancer types. An important opportunity exists to expand multidisciplinary collaboration to include patient advocates and ensure the long-term integration of these improvements. Despite varied site objectives, all participants were committed to improving cancer care. This initiative highlights the power of structured, collaborative efforts to address disparities and enhance patient outcomes. "Now we have an opportunity to bring in patients and advocates… and expand this type of work in a structured way to other cancers and other institutions, other sites in an already national program." – Dr. Samuel Washington “The feasibility of the program overall was important, the fact that we could engage leadership champions at the clinic level and then multi-disciplinary team buy-in at each institution with this goal across oncology, urology, practices, radiation oncology, nursing, to all come together for each of these visits to help develop an action plan, it is something that I have not seen much of in recent years." – Dr. Samuel Washington This project is sponsored by EMD Serono and Pfizer. Samuel L. Washington III, MD, MAS Assistant Professor of Urology, Goldberg-Benioff Endowed Professorship in Cancer Biology University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA Additional Resources: /episode/index/show/8c14e234-7a96-47a3-84da-b3cf4f090e2f/id/35411850

ACCC Capitol Hill Day 02/20/2025

ACCC Capitol Hill Day Members of the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) are preparing for a day of cancer care advocacy on Capitol Hill during its 51st Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS) in Washington, DC between March 5-7, 2025. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Nicole Tapay, JD, director of Cancer Care Delivery & Health Policy at ACCC about key policy issues that members will address during ACCC’s Capitol Hill Day, including drug shortages, Medicare reimbursement for patient navigation, and concerns over the Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on provider reimbursement for infused medications. “[Capitol] Hill Day is a chance for cancer care providers to directly engage in the policymaking process—it's not part of their normal day jobs, but they find it incredibly rewarding." – Nicole Tapay, JD "When cancer care providers visit the Hill in person, it’s a very valuable part of the process; they share firsthand experiences that truly illustrate the impact of policy decisions." – Nicole Tapay, JD Nicole Tapay, JD Director, Cancer Care Delivery & Health Policy Association of Cancer Care Centers Additional Resources (https://www.accc-cancer.org/home/attend/capitol-hill-day) (https://journals.accc-cancer.org/view/2024-policy-wrap-up?_gl=1*ael8au*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3Mzg2OTM3MDUuQ2owS0NRaUFrb2U5QmhEWUFSSXNBSDg1Y0RPekNiaW1WYkJ0TGw1dEtwV0s3ZzFtbWZ3b0tFMkxENTUwMVRkZGZUQzByOUFCS1FUeVpVSWFBa3dvRUFMd193Y0I.*_ga*MTIxNzU0NTA2MC4xNjkxNzY0Mjg0*_ga_HW05FVSTWC*MTc0MDA2NjkzMS41Ni4xLjE3NDAwNjc2NzEuNTIuMC4w) (https://events.accc-cancer.org/event/90b42ca3-a5fd-4f87-a1eb-fe4e00d2e9de/overview?RefId=LIP&utm_campaign=2025AM&utm_campaign=CMI%20%7C%20CMA-22-ACCC010%20%7C%20AMCCBS%2025%20%7C%20EV&utm_medium=paid&utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=google&utm_source=adwords&utm_term=accc%20annual%20meeting&hsa_acc=3682411462&hsa_cam=22029487582&hsa_grp=175156250827&hsa_ad=725387102374&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-2265122107589&hsa_kw=accc%20annual%20meeting&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAn9a9BhBtEiwAbKg6fhOf1fzDdOci-BU8AdIjtS9Y9domwiVkSlasNVK7jVaYE2yv799cHRoC_k4QAvD_BwE) (https://agenda.mjhlifesciences.com/agenda/accc/e02ac0e0-7646-4ff5-b872-e3e2ee8b7e22?_gl=1*1k3a1eu*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NDAwMDE0ODcuQ2p3S0NBaUFuOWE5QmhCdEVpd0FiS2c2ZmhPZjFmekRkT2NpLUJVOEFkSWp0UzlZOWRvbXdpVmtTbGFzTlZLN2pWYVlFMnl2Nzk5Y0hSb0NfazRRQXZEX0J3RQ..*_ga*MTU3NjkxMTU5Mi4xNzM2MTc4MTQy*_ga_HW05FVSTWC*MTc0MDAwMDc4NS43Mi4xLjE3NDAwMDE0ODguNDQuMC4w) /episode/index/show/8c14e234-7a96-47a3-84da-b3cf4f090e2f/id/35366165

Implementing Bispecific Antibodies: The Blueprint for Community Oncology Excellence 02/11/2025

Implementing Bispecific Antibodies: The Blueprint for Community Oncology Excellence Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have the potential to transform cancer treatment and are being actively integrated into community oncology practices. To support oncology practices as they introduce BsAbs into their treatment protocols, the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) has developed a comprehensive blueprint for this process. This resource highlights key strategies, best practices, and considerations for successful implementation. It gives guidance on capacity building, care coordination, and adverse event management, reflecting ACCC’s commitment to providing education and expanding access to this innovative treatment for patients with cancer. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Donald Moore, PharmD, clinical oncology pharmacy manager at Atrium Health Levine Cancer, about the role of bispecific antibodies in oncology care and unique challenges associated with interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr Moore also discusses how the new Blueprint is designed to empower cancer practices to optimize the rollout of these innovative therapies. “I think that the blueprint really nicely describes and delineates some high-level roles and responsibilities of a community academic partnership and how both sites can collaborate to deliver care to their patients” – Donald Moore “Ultimately, my hope is that the blueprint, along with some of the additional resources provided with it, will be helpful in bringing these new therapies closer to home for all of our patients... improving the access to care for this emerging drug class.” – Donald Moore Donald Moore, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, DPLA, FCCP Clinical Oncology Pharmacy Manager Division of Pharmacy Atrium Health Levine Cancer Charlotte, NC Resources:   - - - - - /episode/index/show/8c14e234-7a96-47a3-84da-b3cf4f090e2f/id/35175540

Missing Voices: Increasing Black Women’s Engagement in Patient Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Treatment 02/06/2025

Missing Voices: Increasing Black Women’s Engagement in Patient Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Treatment The imPROVE study aims to bridge the gap in patient-reported outcomes (PRO) data for Black women with breast cancer by enhancing engagement with tailored electronic PROs (ePROs) and partnering with community leaders to address barriers and ensure accessibility and relevance in community cancer care settings. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Manraj Kaur, PhD, investigator and lead faculty for research and innovation at Patient-Reported Outcomes, Value, and Experience (PROVE) center at Mass General Brigham and Andrea Pusic, MD, chief of division of plastic and reconstructive surgery, director of PROVE center at Mass General Brigham, and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School about the imPROVE study’s efforts to enhance Black women’s engagement in ePROs in breast cancer treatment. Dr. Kaur sheds light on strategies to improve technology accessibility for Black women in their cancer care center by providing iPads and refined usability features on the imPROVE app. Dr. Pusic highlights imPROVE implementation results at five community cancer centers, including utilizing local champions and equitable access to resources. “When we make sure Black women are included, we gain a more accurate picture of health, we can design better care, and then we take a real step towards closing the health equity gap.” – Manraj Kaur “The imPROVE study is all about increasing accessibility of patient-reported outcome measurements to Black breast cancer patients receiving care in community cancer centers.” – Andrea Pusic Manraj Kaur, PhD  Investigator, Lead Faculty for Research and Innovation Patient-Reported Outcomes Value Experience (PROVE) Center Brigham and Women’s Hospital Boston, MA Andrea Pusic, MD Chief of Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Director, PROVE Center Brigham and Women’s Hospital Professor of Surgery Harvard Medical School Boston, MA Resources: - ? - https://prove.bwh.harvard.edu/current_project/improve-breast-cancer-care/ /episode/index/show/8c14e234-7a96-47a3-84da-b3cf4f090e2f/id/35174575

Consumerism, Cultures of Happiness, and AI in Cancer Care 01/30/2025

CANCER BUZZ

TOPICS