COVID-19

“COVID-19 is more than just the common cold. It represents a perpetual challenge for which we have to be perpetually prepared,” stated Anthony S. Fauci, MD, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD), in his keynote lecture at the July 2020 AACR virtual meeting on COVID-19 and cancer. Dr Fauci has been Director of NIAD for 36 years. Read More ›

One question on oncologists’ minds recently is whether treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancer has a negative effect on COVID-19 disease. So far, the data have not shown a deleterious effect, but the definitive answer is unknown. In fact, some experts think immune checkpoint inhibitors may have a positive effect on the virus. Read More ›

During the July 2020 AACR virtual meeting on COVID-19 and cancer, Solange Peters, MD, PhD, European Society for Medical Oncology President, and Head, Medical Oncology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland, delivered the keynote address, providing an update on the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium cohort study. Read More ›

For decades, healthcare professionals have worked diligently to teach individuals that screening is a valuable tool for preventing and detecting cancer. This has not been an easy mission, and nurses and physicians have had to debunk the myths, bias, and misinformation that deter patients from getting screened annually or according to specific guidelines set forth by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). Although clinicians have been telling their patients—and the population at large—not to put off cancer screening because it saves lives, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of this year, the dialogue changed. Read More ›

With new cancer diagnoses down by 37% since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and data from IQVIA showing that 22 million people postponed cancer screening tests and 80,000 patients delayed or missed diagnoses, America’s comprehensive cancer centers and integrated delivery networks (IDNs) are anticipating a major “shadow curve” in new cancer cases in the months and year to come. Read More ›

It is a Herculean effort to develop a novel vaccine on an unprecedented timeline. Experts discuss the latest research regarding the development of vaccine candidates for the COVID-19 virus and some of the issues that will need to be addressed when a successful candidate has been identified, including clinical trial enrollment, manufacturing, and distribution. Read More ›

Community oncology practices say they are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping their eye on the goal of value-based care. The strategies they are using to accomplish these initiatives include innovation, long-term integration of telehealth, and the leveraging of advanced practice professionals. Read More ›

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant barriers to care, which can lead to increased mortality rates for thousands of patients with cancer. Nurses and nurse navigators are focused on using their skills and experience to combat this trend. Ongoing efforts include educating patients on the importance of undergoing cancer screenings, utilizing telehealth services to enhance communication with patients, addressing staffing shortages, and taking the necessary steps for preparing for potential spikes in COVID-19 cases. Read More ›

Can the use of telehealth services help to address the upcoming burden of late cancer diagnoses, improve the co-management of chronic conditions, and give patients more power over their own health? During a recent AVBCC webinar, a panel of experts explored this question as they discussed the potential role of wearables, remote monitoring and communication, and other innovative technology for improving care for patients with cancer. Read More ›

From the management of extended payment terms and performance-based agreements, to the potential impact of the proposed 2021 Medicare rules and the impending shortages of immune globulin, wholesale suppliers discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the oncology supply chain, what is being done to help practices, and what challenges lie ahead. Read More ›