Association of Community Cancer Centers Launches New Online Resource for Metastatic Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Care

"The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade is proud to lend its voice and support to this ground-breaking national initiative to improve the treatment and management of metastatic breast cancer in the community setting.  By incorporating both educational and research components, this project not only focuses on providing current information on known challenges and issues around treating metastatic breast cancer patients, but also seeks to identify unknown challenges, including barriers to care, before they impact delivery," said Carolyn Ricci, Program Director, Avon Breast Cancer Crusade

An estimated 150,000 to 250,000 women, in the US, are currently living with metastatic breast cancer.¹ Metastatic disease—advanced stage breast cancer, in which cancer has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body— remains a mostly incurable condition and is the second leading cause of cancer death among women today.^2, 3, 4  Public awareness and education initiatives mostly focus on early detection and survival. Patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer face unique challenges.

"As the majority of cancer patients are treated in community cancer centers, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance is honored to support this important initiative to improve the treatment and management of metastatic breast cancer.  High quality resources exist for people living with metastatic breast cancer. This new microsite will aid community cancer providers in linking their patients to support," said Christine Benjamin, Breast Cancer Program Director, SHARE; and Information Task Force Chair, Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance.

ACCC is working to broaden the overall understanding and to expand the current breast cancer dialogue to address gaps in communications about early and metastatic disease; and create resources for the treatment and management of metastatic breast cancer in the community oncology setting. "The launch of this new metastatic breast cancer information destination is a significant step in giving providers effective resources and tools needed to support their patients across the continuum of care," said ACCC President Jennie R. Crews, MD, MMM, FACP.

The new site will pull together tools and resources from cancer programs and non-profit organizations nationwide.  "The Cancer Support Community is hopeful that this new site will be a go-to for health care providers looking to support patients with metastatic breast cancer. We are proud to collaborate with ACCC and other advocacy organizations to share our resources in a central, easily accessible location online," said Kristen Santiago, Senior Director, Cancer Support Community

Resources available on the Metastatic Breast Cancer: Resources and Tools for the Multidisciplinary Team site include:

• The Cancer Experience Registry^® --a tool to identify and advance the understanding of the emotional and social needs of people living with cancer and their caregivers.
• The Dandelion Project – a first-of-its-kind approach to information for metastatic breast cancer patients and their families, designed using a unique set of visual tools that will help address the existing communications challenges, increase patient engagement, and facilitate alignment of patient and healthcare team goals.
• Metastatic Breast Cancer: Effective Principles & Practices in Patient Support workbook – a guide to help health care professionals identify effective tools and resources for supporting patients with MBC.

"We're proud to be working with ACCC and the broader cancer community to ensure healthcare providers have access to the tools and resources they need to support patients with metastatic breast cancer," said Lynn McRoy, MD, Breast Cancer Team Lead US Medical Affairs, Pfizer Oncology.  "In particular, we are pleased to see the focus ACCC is putting on facilitating more effective communication between physicians and patients throughout their care.  We believe this new website will make it easier for healthcare providers to benefit from the helpful resources available in this area on an ongoing basis."

For more information about metastatic breast cancer and resources for the multidisciplinary team, please visit http://resources.accc-cancer.org/metastatic-breast-cancer/.

¹ Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Silent voices: women with advanced (metastatic) breast cancer share their needs and preferences for information, support and practical service. Available at: http://www.advancedbc.org/node/26.

² BreastCancer.org. Stages of Breast Cancer. Available at: http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/staging.

³ American Cancer Society. Treatment of invasive breast cancer, by stage. Available at: http://m.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-treating-by-stage. 

⁴ The Journal of Cancer Research. Breast Cancer Metastasis: Challenges and Opportunities. Available at: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/69/12/4951.

About the Association of Community Cancer Centers
The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is the leading advocacy and education organization for the multidisciplinary cancer care team. More than 23,000 cancer care professionals from over 2,500 hospitals and practices nationwide are affiliated with ACCC. Providing a national forum for addressing issues that affect community cancer programs, ACCC is recognized as the premier provider of resources for the entire oncology care team. Our members include medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, cancer program administrators and medical directors, senior hospital executives, practice managers, pharmacists, oncology nurses, radiation therapists, social workers, and cancer program data managers. For more information, visit ACCC's website at www.accc-cancer.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and read our blog, ACCCBuzz.

SOURCE Association of Community Cancer Centers

Related Links

http://www.accc-cancer.org