CancerCare® Releases Landmark Patient Access and Engagement Report

NEW YORK, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A landmark report illustrating the many physical, emotional, financial, practical and informational needs cancer patients experience during and after clinical treatment was released today by CancerCare, a national nonprofit organization that provides free psychosocial support, education and financial assistance to anyone affected by cancer. The 2016 Patient Access and Engagement Report reflects the perspectives of more than 3,000 patients diverse in ethnicity, income, education, geography, age, insurance, cancer type and treatment stage regarding their understanding of their diagnosis and access to care, participation in treatment planning, communication and engagement with providers, insurance and financial issues, the impact of cancer on quality of life, and issues related to survivorship.

"Cancer takes its toll in many ways, some of which last for years and cause debilitating distress for patients and families," explains Patricia J. Goldsmith, CancerCare Chief Executive Officer. "This report, reflecting the input of thousands of patients, sheds light on the important issues affecting patients' lives during and beyond a cancer diagnosis. CancerCare conducted this study to learn more about how patients experience life after a cancer diagnosis, in order to inform our program development and most accurately represent and address the needs of patients throughout their continuum of care and after clinical treatment is complete."

The report and chart deck, downloadable and available for free at www.cancercare.org/accessengagementreport, provide details and data from six separate on-line surveys, each completed from July to November of 2015.

The advisory board for this report includes the following renowned experts in oncology and patient engagement:

Walter Baile, MD University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston, TX

Ethan Basch, MD, MSc UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; Chapel Hill, NC

Jimmie Holland, MD Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY

Marcia Kean, MBA Feinstein Kean Healthcare; Cambridge, MA

Sandra Kurtin, RN, MSN, AOCN, ANP-C The University of Arizona Cancer Center; Tucson, AZ

Terry Langbaum, MHS Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center; Baltimore, MD

Michael Parisi, MBA President, CancerCare Board of Trustees, Managing Partner, Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide; New York, NY

Lee Schwartzberg, MD, FACP Chief, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Memphis, TN

Thomas Workman, PhD Principal Communication Researcher and Evaluator, American Institutes for Research; Washington, DC

Michael K. Wong, MD, PhD, FRCPC USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center; Los Angeles, CA

Patricia Goldsmith Chief Executive Officer, CancerCare; New York, NY

Ellen Sonet, MBA, JD Chief Strategy and Alliance Officer, CancerCare; New York, NY

The survey process and development of the final report was managed by Harborside Press, a health care information and communications company that specializes in oncology.

This project was made possible by AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Helsinn Therapeutics, Gilead Sciences, Incyte Corporation, Janssen Oncology, Lilly, Merck, PhRMA, and Pfizer.

About CancerCare^®

Founded in 1944, CancerCare is the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer. CancerCare's comprehensive services include counseling and support groups over the phone, online and in-person, educational workshops, publications and financial and co-payment assistance. All CancerCare services are provided by oncology social workers and world-leading cancer experts. Headquartered in New York, NY, CancerCare maintains three additional locations in Norwalk, CT, Ridgewood, NJ and Syosset, NY.

To learn more, visit www.cancercare.org or call 800-813-HOPE (4673).

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SOURCE CancerCare

Related Links

http://www.cancercare.org