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
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • 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
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

Thierry Oquidam from e-Nable explained at Doctors 2.0 & You, how 3D prosthetics turn children into “superheros” #doctors20
Balancing Technology and The Art of Medicine
Online Patient Reviews: Power, Influence and Muscle to Grow Even Bigger
Patient Engagement Is A Physician-Patient Communication Challenge…Not A Health Information Technology Challenge
Analysis of Spending in U.S., Canada on Health IT Vendors in 2014

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

contamination
Batch Failures And The Hidden Costs Of Contamination
Health Infographics
October 21, 2025
Medication Management For Seniors
Simplifying Medication Management For Seniors
Infographics Senior Care
October 21, 2025
Guide To Pursuing a Career in Nursing as a Foreigner in the USA
Collaboration Is the Prescription for Better Patient Care
Health
October 20, 2025
Epidemiological Health Benefits
Personal and Epidemiological Health Benefits of Blood Pressure Management
Health
October 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Alzheimer's biomarker
BusinessNewsTechnology

Siemens Increases Patient Access to Alzheimer’s Biomarker

June 12, 2013

The Rise of Google + and Hangout in Healthcare.

November 30, 2011

Your Employees Are Your Best Brand Ambassadors

August 6, 2014

Strategies for Optimal Hospital Supply Chain Solutions

November 9, 2015
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?