By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    FDA Approves Diabetes Pill
    May 2, 2011
    Patient Gets Drunk on Hand Sanitizer
    June 20, 2011
    Cultivating Health Improvement
    July 20, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Navigating Cancer Faster
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Navigating Cancer Faster
eHealthTechnology

Navigating Cancer Faster

Andrew Schorr
Last updated: December 16, 2014 9:00 am
Andrew Schorr
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

navigating cancerFor most cancers, there are no longer “one-size-fits-all” treatment plans.

navigating cancerFor most cancers, there are no longer “one-size-fits-all” treatment plans. And at the recent American Society of Hematology meeting in San Francisco, we heard not only that this is changing but that it is changing quickly. I almost feel sorry for the growing ranks of “nurse navigators” who will have many long nights studying just to keep up. Monoclonal antibodies for myeloma, new medicines for CLL, some people stopping medicine for CML, many trials in MPNs, breakthroughs in lymphomas and some acute leukemias. Add to that the looming “immuno-oncology” and how experts are saying it could revolutionize cancer care. How do we all keep up?

We’ve just interviewed more than 40 experts—patients as well as MDs—about these topics, and we’ve been bringing what they say directly to patients worldwide living with these conditions, and their care partners. This year we even streamed a session with a myeloma expert live, so patients could ask questions about the news right as it happened. And we have been rushing to publish our video interviews that were recorded. Even with that, patients have been writing me expressing frustration that it takes so long. They want news for their cancer NOW! And then what happens? They call or visit their clinic and ask questions. I imagine this week after ASH there will be many calls and many questions. That’s a good thing.

Community oncology leaders like Dr. Rob Rifkin from the US Oncology Network told me during an interview the other day they are committed to patients having access to the latest treatments and clinical trials close to home. I got the same message when chatting with the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center folks. Together, they treat hundreds of thousands of cancer patients. And our effort is to make those cancer patients smarter and now to do it faster.

More Read

On “Empowering Patients in the Age of Genomic Medicine”
Why Knowing Your Audience Is Critical To Healthcare Social Media Marketing
Support Critical When Treating Mental Health
How to Get Health Care Innovations to Take Off
How the iPad is Increasing Accuracy and Simplifying the Life of Physicians

So that brings me back to the nurse navigator sitting alongside the patient. They will have to sprint to keep up. But before we had nurse navigators, there were few people who had the time or the role to answer questions to foster education. So we are taking huge steps forward in a dialogue between the healthcare team and people affected by cancer. Thank God, in many cancers there is so much to talk about.

Remember when you got your first computer, and you thought the processing speed was pretty fast? And then, over time, it wasn’t fast enough? Now cancer patients are beginning to expect a faster pace: faster genetic analysis of their precise situation, faster more complete discussion of the options—including trials—and a faster pace for clinic-to-patient communication overall.

I know, by law, hospitals and clinics in the U.S. will soon be required to have online patient portals active. That will create secure channels for our test results, our appointments, and it should also be a place where personalized education lives, too—and that changes as our situation changes.

For so many years, not much changed in cancer care. Now it makes your head spin. The experts are excited and many patients are, too. So we better start actively talking to one another, regularly, and faster. When you have cancer, taking the slow road to better care or a cure is not an option.

TAGGED:cancer
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Personalized Medicine and a Cure for Cancer

December 10, 2014

The PCMH and Home Care Data: An Interview with Melissa McCormack

December 19, 2013
electronic medical records
BusinesseHealthHospital AdministrationMedical Records

Why You Should Embrace Electronic Medical Records

December 29, 2013
digital health
eHealthMobile HealthSocial Media

Are Insurance Providers Buying Into Digital Health? Audax Health Is Making It Happen

October 11, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?