COA Patient Advocacy Network
News Bulletin: April 2021
Upcoming Advocacy Chat:
New COA & CancerCare Screening Campaign, Time to Screen
During the pandemic, cancer screenings have declined precipitously as many people understandably became reluctant to enter medical facilities. Oncologists are seeing an uptick in late-stage cancer diagnoses and are concerned that this trend will continue unless American's resume their screenings.

The "Time to Screen" effort is a new public awareness campaign between COA and CancerCare. Through it, anyone needing to schedule a cancer screening, or wondering if they should be screened, can visit www.TimeToScreen.org or call 1-855-53-SCREEN (1-855-537-2733) for assistance.

This month's advocacy chat features COA’s Nicolas Ferreyros and CancerCare’s Marissa Fors who will join Rose Gerber to discuss the “Time to Screen” campaign and why cancer screening is important.
ICYMI: Watch our March Advocacy Chat on Colorectal Cancer

Interim President of the Colon Cancer Foundation Cindy Borassi discussed the Foundation’s work toward eradicating colorectal cancer. Hear Cindy examine unique initiatives making a difference like Protect Your Butt, the Rollin’ Colon and efforts to expand screening among at-risk populations.

Chapter Spotlight: New England Cancer Specialists
Locations in Maine and New Hampshire
Home to almost half of Maine’s board-certified medical oncologists, New England Cancer Specialists’ (NECS) team of physicians, advanced practitioners, and pharmacists cares for more than 3,500 patients each year in Maine and New Hampshire. 

NECS is committed to improving the patient experience, implementing personalized treatment plans and utilizing innovative medical technologies to yield the best possible outcomes for patients. As the only Maine practice selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model, NECS collaborates with top specialists across the United States and is often first to offer cutting-edge treatment protocols. 

Clinicians at NECS are passionate CPAN advocates, sharing their expertise and experience with lawmakers to ensure policies benefit people with cancer, caretakers, and their family members. With the support of CPAN, patients and families connect with their federal elected officials, helping policymakers better appreciate patient experiences with cancer diagnosis and treatment. 


Cancer News You Can Use
Harvard Business Review 03/09
Concentration in the U.S. health care sector has been on the rise over the past two decades. Given the financial difficulty that many providers have suffered during the pandemic, this trend is likely to continue, reducing competition and increasing prices.

New York Times 03/17
Appointments for mammograms and other tests to detect potential cancers were canceled during lockdowns, possibly leading to undiagnosed malignancies. In some cases, the delay has come at a great cost.

MedPage Today 03/18
Two types of acupuncture significantly reduced chronic musculoskeletal pain in cancer survivors as compared with usual care, a randomized trial showed.
Video: Community Oncology 101
What is a Specialty Pharmacy?
In this Cancer Policy Minute, Michael Diaz, MD, of Florida Cancer Specialists discusses specialty pharmacies.

In the video Dr. Diaz explains why specialty pharmacy works best when cancer drugs are dispensed within community oncology practices. Learn about specialty pharmacy in this edition of Community Oncology 101.

Resources for Advocates & Chapters
Enjoying COA’s educational advocacy video content featured in CPAN’s monthly news bulletin?

Browse dozens of videos featuring patients, chapters, and oncology experts on our @OncologyCOA YouTube page.
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