In 1965, the monthly cost of cancer care was $100. By 2013, that number had risen to nearly $10,000. The skyrocketing cost of cancer drugs has, in part, played a major role in limiting access to care for patients with cancer. But money isn’t the only barrier: Location of treatment centers, lack of transportation, socioeconomic challenges, along with myriad cultural differences can play into the ways patients do—or don’t—access care.

Patient navigation programs can help to improve outcomes and reduce disparities; however, little is known about their effects on clinical outcomes, such as survival. In a retrospective, cohort study, a nurse-led patient navigation program was initiated to assess 12-month survival outcomes. The researchers presented the study at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

When President Obama announced the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative during his State of the Union address in January 2016, he set lofty goals for oncology professionals. One of those goals called for increased access to and participation in clinical trials. Clinical trial data are integral in getting cutting-edge treatments to market, where they can help improve cancer care. However, many patients aren’t fully educated about the efficacy of these new forms of treatment and what these trials entail.

During orientation, Justine learns that women scheduled for a hookwire procedure are transported to the mammography suite located across the parking area of the hospital building. Patients are being taken through the public waiting area during the transport. She knows this is a patient privacy violation, but her supervisor tells her, “This is the way we've always done it.”

During a patients’ initial visit, they’re asked to fill out a screening tool that helps provide a clearer picture as to what their home life is like. This tool addresses important information that helps to dictate our care. Though patients may feel like this is “just another piece of paperwork,” it is crucial to helping us understand their needs and to begin planning for special precautions we many need to take going forward.

“She is super smart, highly qualified, and handpicked by your physician.” Our patient care coordinator often says this when she's on the phone talking face-to-face with patients to set up their next office visit. She encourages patients to accept their upcoming appointment with our nurse practitioner.