Cancer changes many aspects of a person’s life and can reduce income, free time, and more. That is why it is critical for patients with cancer to know about the wide array of emotional, financial, and practical resources that are available to support them.

Join the Community Oncology Alliance Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN) for a virtual Advocacy Chat about finding and utilizing these resources on Wednesday, September 9 from 12-12:30 p.m. ET. Rose Gerber, COA’s Director of Advocacy and Education, will be joined by Patricia Goldsmith, CEO of CancerCare, a leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help patients with cancer. They will discuss the broader points of patient-focused resources, as well as the specific resources offered by CancerCare.

There are many places where people with cancer can go for treatment, but not all cancer care is created equally. If you missed our last Advocacy Chat, it is now available on-demand where you can watch Rose Gerber and COA Medical Director of Public Policy Mark Thompson, MD, discuss how community oncology is different than other types of care.

Check out the recording of our last advocacy chat about site of service for cancer care. Learn how you can join us to protect the care that more than half of people with cancer depend on.

With an expansive network of practices across booming urban cities and rural towns alike, Texas Oncology sees about half of Texans with cancer.

The community oncology landscape is rapidly changing. What hasn’t changed is that patients are better served in their own community, because it’s not just about treating cancer; it’s about taking care of the whole person.

Texas Oncology understands that decisions made about people’s cancer treatment options in Washington, D.C. and Austin have real-world implications for patients. Led by chapter co-leaders Lance Ortega, BSN, RN, OCN, Director of Nursing Services and Donnell Hale, BSN, RN, OCN, Manager of Nursing Services, advocates at Texas Oncology work to support policies that make cancer care more affordable, while eliminating barriers to life-saving community-based cancer care.

BBC News

“A single targeted dose of radiotherapy could be as effective at treating breast cancer as a full course, a long-term study suggests. Researchers said people who received the shorter treatment were also less likely to die of other cancers and heart disease in the following five years.”

UT Southwestern Medical Center

“New research from Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) provides insight into why this occurs, opening up new targets for treatments that could inhibit the spread of cancer. The study, published today in Nature, found melanoma cells that pass through the lymph nodes pick up a protective coating, allowing them to survive high levels of oxidative stress in the blood and go on to form distant tumors.”

Kaiser Family Foundation

“Changes to the Postal Service’s delivery standards have potential implications that extend beyond those for the election. Potential mail service delays could also be a concern for people who receive prescription drugs from mail-order pharmacies.”

STAT News

“A growing number of drug makers are taking steps to curtail the discounts they offer through a federal program for safety-net hospitals, the latest effort in a long-running battle by the pharmaceutical industry to limit payments to the controversial initiative.”

Clinical trials investigate new therapies to scientifically determine whether they are effective for patients.

The newest edition of our Community Oncology 101 video education series breaks down how and why clinical trials are used in the community oncology setting.

If you are a cancer patient who has previously received treatment at a hospital and need to find a new practice because of COVID-19, the Patient Practice Connector is free and accessible for all to use. All submitted data is completely anonymous.

Back by popular demand, COA and CancerCare have relaunched the Patient Assistance Transportation Program. Many patients face difficulty finding safe transportation to and from treatment due to COVID-19. The Transportation Program provides free, sanitized transport for patients who need it. (Note that practices must register for this program and arrange transportation for patients directly. Please do not contact COA or the transportation provider to schedule).