1. How cancer teams let down my friend—and what I hope they learn from it
After watching a colleague and a health care expert navigate breast cancer treatment last year, Lindsay Conway was dismayed to see how her care missed the mark. Here is her friend's story, which we hope will be instructive for cancer center leaders looking to provide a more coherent and coordinated care experience. Read the post
2. To PSA test, or not to PSA test: That is the question
The USPSTF earlier this year issued a draft recommendation softening its stance against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. Here are answers to three of the biggest questions about the updated statement—including what cancer programs can do to encourage appropriate testing. Read the post
3. Chemo cold caps: What you need to know
We've received an increasing number of questions about using cooling caps to reduce chemotherapy-related hair loss, particularly after FDA's recent approval of a cap for use in all solid tumor cancer patients. Here's what your cancer program needs to know. Read the post
4. The latest trends on clinical pathways in oncology
Many cancer programs are considering investing in clinical pathways in order to standardize care and adhere to evidence-based guidelines. Find out what our recent benchmarking surveys revealed about how providers are using pathways and which pathways are the most common. Read the post
5. Medical marijuana: The oncology drug you're not talking about, but should
As more states legalize medical marijuana, patient interest in the drug is increasing. Read on to learn more about the use of medical marijuana among cancer patients, and why oncologists should start talking about it. Read the post
6. Oncologists were told to 'Choose Wisely'—but did that actually lead to change?
The American Society of Clinical Oncology's Choosing Wisely campaign tried to improve quality and cut unnecessary spend in cancer care through its recommendation on end-of-life care. Read on to learn whether it worked—and how you should think about the results. Read the post
7. The chemotherapy blues: How depression impacts treatment efficacy
Depression is a well-known side effect of cancer: 15-25% of cancer patients experience some degree of depression following diagnosis. But while depression undoubtedly has a negative impact on a patient's quality of life, a new study suggests even more dire consequences—that depression can hinder the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Read the post
8. UVA's 3 keys to building a top outpatient palliative care program
Dr. Leslie Blackhall, the palliative care lead at UVA, shares three lessons the system has learned about how to establish a successful outpatient palliative care program. Read the post
9. How UVA uses palliative care to improve patient quality of life
Read on to learn how UVA's palliative care program helped decrease cancer patients' ICU admissions in the last six months of life and odds of dying in the hospital or ICU. Read the post
10. Beyond 340B: The 5 other CMS proposals for 2018 that cancer programs need to know
Read on to learn what CMS has planned for updating chemotherapy drug administration codes, implementing the 21st Century Cures Act, and more. Read the post
