Fast Facts Vol 40, No. 5

5 Common Errors That Prevent Timely, Accurate Diagnoses

1. Misuse of testing equipment
2. Mixed-up samples
3. Mislabeled specimens
4. Test performed on the wrong patient
5. Failure to communicate test results to patient.

Source. Data Analysis Reveals Common Errors That Prevent Patients From Getting Timely, Accurate Diagnoses. ECRI. Published September 5, 2024.

Poll Shows That Many Patients Are Not Getting Health Screenings

Findings from this American Association of Nurse Practitioners survey found that:

• 27% of respondents say they are not up to date with their health screenings and immunizations.
• Nearly 40% travel more than 10 miles to access care. Those traveling over 10 miles to get care were much more likely to report access challenges (42%) than those who did not have to go as far (23%)
• Nearly 1/3 of respondents, particularly those who are younger, Hispanic, or living in rural areas, report difficulty accessing health care services.
• 73% of respondents support legislation that would make it easier to choose a nurse practitioner, up from 67% in 2022, and 61% in 2021.

Source. New Poll Shows a Large Number of Patients Are Not Getting Health Screenings. AANP. Published October 7, 2024.

Survey Finds Women Are Skipping Their OB/ GYN Exams

Of the more than 1100 adult women surveyed in a November poll:

• 62% understand that cervical cancer is preventable with regular screenings
• 72% report having delayed a gynecology visit, with 54% saying it was due to fear or discomfort and 49% citing scheduling related challenges.
• 50% indicated that they have no idea how often they are supposed to get screened for cervical cancer.

Source. New Survey Finds Women Are Skipping Their OB/GYN Exams. Becton, Dickinson and Company. Published January 9, 2025.

2025 statistics from the American Cancer Society revealed that the incidence rate for women under 50 has increased from being 51% higher than men in 2002 to 82% higher than men in 2021.

Source. Cancer Incidence Rate for Women Under 50 Rises Above Men’s. American Cancer Society. Published January 16, 2025

Key Findings From 2024 Breastcancer.org Survey

• Physical and cognitive side effects from treatment were reported by 99.9% of respondents, with chemotherapy patients experiencing severe physical symptoms.
• While 96.8% of patients reported short-term side effects that were explained to them to some extent, 18.7% reported that long-term side effects were often not discussed.
• 95.9% of patients turned to the internet for information, with 42.9% saying online communities were “extremely helpful” in managing their treatment journey.
• 1 in 3 patients did not receive referrals to specialists such as physical therapists or mental health counselors.
• 12.7% of respondents felt uncomfortable or embarrassed communicating side effects with their provider.
• 12.2% expressed concerns about not receiving enough time to discuss their symptoms.
• 12.8% said their provider did not believe their side effects were from medication, while 10.6% were made to feel they should be able to better handle side effects.

Source. Breastcancer.org Survey Reveals Severe Side Effects and Gaps in Long-Term Care Discussions for Breast Cancer Patients. Breastcancer.org. Published October 15, 2024.

more online @accc-cancer.org

Increasing Access and Representation in Clinical Trials

While clinical trials offer the most effective treatment options, large disparities exist in enrollment across race, ethnicity, geography, and type of cancer care center. This podcast highlights how Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center uses local partnerships, culturally tailored outreach, and workforce innovation to drive sustainable and equitable participation in clinical trials.

Collaborative Care After CAR T-Cell Treatment

This checklist serves as a quick-reference tool for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy centers to communicate essential information with referring programs following a patient’s treatment, serving as a complement to the treatment summary.

Biomarker Testing for Gynecologic Malignancies

Gynecologic malignancies are projected to impact over 108,000 individuals annually, but fortunately the advancement of biomarker testing has proven highly effective in managing these malignancies. To better facilitate shared decision-making and improve provider knowledge of biomarker testing, ACCC developed a comprehensive guide to give an overview of germline and somatic testing, testing approaches, actionable biomarkers and FDA-approved therapies, and the role of biomarkers in precision medicine.

Improving Clinical Trial Access and Support: A Practical e-Course Designed for Patient Navigators

Only a small portion of eligible patients participate in clinical trials, with financial and logistical concerns acting as significant barriers to trial enrollment for many. In this ACCCBuzz blog, learn how Susan G. Komen partnered with breastcancertrials.org to develop a clinical trials navigation e-course designed to help patient navigators better support individuals in accessing trials.

Equitable Access to Quality Care for Unresectable HCC

This 3-part on-demand video series provides an overview of treatment access challenges for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), treatment selection strategies, and a real-world case study examining barriers and potential solutions.