From Empathy to Action: Andrea Anampa-Guzmán’s Commitment to Survivorship Through Care and Advocacy
/in Advocate Spotlight, Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog, NCCS News Access to Care, Disparities in Outcomes, Drug Pricing, Health Care Coverage, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Dr. Andrea Anampa-Guzmán Dr. Andrea Anampa-Guzmán’s experience in health care began in Lima, Peru, where she was born and pursued her medical degree at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Driven by a deep-rooted passion for helping others and making a tangible impact on people’s lives, Andrea found herself particularly drawn to […]
Patients First: Samantha & Samuel Siegel’s Marriage of Medicine and Advocacy
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Drs. Samantha and Samuel Siegel Samantha and Samuel Siegel started medical school together at Jefferson Medical College in 2008, the only married couple in their cohort. While Samuel had been managing chronic health conditions since his early 20s, including inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune liver disease, their third year of medical school brought […]
Inspiring Change: Sandra Calloway Fields’ Survivorship Journey from Diagnosis to Advocacy
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Exercise and Rehabilitation, Health Equity, Integrative Oncology, Quality Cancer Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Sandra Calloway Fields Sandra Calloway Fields was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. Just a month after surgery to remove the cancer, Sandra found a lump in her breast during a self-breast exam in the shower. Her suspicions were soon confirmed: Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. “Of course, I was shocked, but […]
Advocating for Change: Ethan Schilling’s Path from Childhood Cancer to Survivor Advocate
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Ethan Schilling A childhood cancer survivor himself, Ethan Schilling’s work as a psychologist is motivated by his commitment to meeting the psychological needs of children, adolescents, and families whose lives have been impacted by cancer and other chronic health conditions. Ethan’s personal experience with cancer started when his twin brother Derek was diagnosed […]
Webinar: Making Integrative Oncology Regular & Routine: A Practical Guide to Meeting the Demands of Patients and the Needs of Health Systems
/in Cancer Policy Blog, NCCS News Care Coordination, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Integrative Oncology, Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) Presents the Survivorship Champions webinar “Making Integrative Oncology Regular & Routine: A Practical Guide to Meeting the Demands of Patients and the Needs of Health Systems.” Conventional cancer treatments usually focus on treating the cancer directly. Integrative oncology treats the whole person, incorporating conventional treatments in addition to […]
Webinar: Black Men Taking Charge of Our Health – A Fireside Chat About “Knowing Your Numbers”
/in NCCS News Disparities in Outcomes, Doctor-Patient Communication, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making NCCS NewsApril is National Minority Health Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities and reducing health disparities. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) presents a fireside chat between NCCS Vice-Chair Lisa D. T. Rice and Lamont Mitchell, prostate cancer survivor and founder of […]
Finding Hope in Adversity: Alyssa Fischer-Reeder’s Path to Survivorship
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Access to Care, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsIn 2003, Alyssa Fischer-Reeder graduated from American University in Washington, DC, with a BA in Education and Communication and decided to enroll in a Master’s program before becoming ill. At first, she noticed that the back of her tongue was a bit sore but soon realized that she could feel a very large hard mass […]
NCCS Submits Comments to CMS on its Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Guidance
/in NCCS News, Policy Comments Access to Care, Drug Pricing, Health Care Coverage NCCS News, Policy CommentsNCCS submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the second part of its draft guidance for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP). The MPPP was created by the Inflation Reduction Act and allows Medicare beneficiaries to spread the cost of prescription drugs in Medicare Part D over the year, rather […]
Webinar – Compassion in Oncology: A Powerful Antidote to a Patient’s Negative Emotions
/in NCCS News Doctor-Patient Communication, Integrative Oncology, Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) Presents “Compassion in Oncology: A Powerful Antidote to a Patient’s Negative Emotions,” a webinar featuring Dr. Michael Crain and Claudio Pannunzio from The Patient is U. Their presentation explores the concept of “Empathy + Action = Compassion” and shares the benefits of compassionate care. Compassionate care engenders three […]
Arti Varanasi – Transforming Research and Caregiving into Advocacy
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Disparities in Outcomes, Health Equity, Quality Cancer CareAdvocate Spotlight: Arti Varanasi, PhD Arti Varanasi, PhD, MPH, CPH is the Founder, President and CEO of Advancing Synergy, a social enterprise focused on advancing health equity and health justice through innovations that engage individuals and impact communities. Driven by curiosity and purpose, she is most passionate about building community and capacity and ensuring individuals, […]
In Memoriam: C. Norman “Norm” Coleman, MD, Esteemed Researcher and Advocate for Global Health Equity
/in Cancer News, NCCS News Health Equity NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) mourns the loss of Dr. C. Norman “Norm” Coleman, an esteemed researcher, clinician, advocate for global health equity, and friend to NCCS. Dr. Coleman was a 2018 recipient of the Ellen L. Stovall Award for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care. We are grateful for Dr. Coleman’s advocacy and […]
Webinar: Managing Function and Quality of Life of Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
/in NCCS News Clinical Guidelines, Doctor-Patient Communication, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) hosted a Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) webinar discussing quality of life for head and neck cancer survivors. The treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) often involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. This treatment is critical for controlling or curing head and neck cancer. Though necessary, these […]
Together We Can: Yvonne McLean Florence’s Journey from Breast Cancer Survivor to Advocate
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Access to Care, Financial Toxicity, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Yvonne McLean Florence Before her cancer diagnosis, Yvonne McLean Florence had a full life. She worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, spent lots of time nurturing her family, enjoying her roles as wife, mother, grandmother, and ordained minister, while finding time to enjoy gardening and crafting. […]
NCCS Submits Comments on March-In Rights
/in Department of Commerce, NCCS News, Policy Comments Access to Care, Drug Pricing NCCS News, Policy CommentsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) joined fellow member organizations of the Cancer Leadership Council in submitting comments on the “Draft Interagency Guidance Framework for Considering the Exercise of March-In Rights” issued by the US Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The draft framework provides that prices can be a […]
Webinar: Making the Mouth-Body Connection in Cancer Care
/in NCCS News Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) presents a webinar about oral care — an aspect of cancer treatment that is often overlooked. Oral side effects and untreated dental diseases can cause added pain, financial hardships, psychological distress, and a diminished quality of life for those being treated for cancer. Oral effects can also lead […]
Webinar: NCCS Cancer Policy Roundtable Highlights
/in NCCS News Access to Care, Drug Pricing, Health Care Coverage, Quality Cancer Care NCCS NewsDuring our Fall Cancer Policy Roundtable in November 2023, NCCS hosted a compelling series of panels and guest speakers, discussing important issues in quality cancer survivorship care. As many of our CPAT members across the country were unable to join this in-person event, we wanted to provide highlights from the roundtable on two of the […]
Heart for the Future: Medical Students’ Passion for Cancer Survivorship Fuels Their Future as Oncologists
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Care Coordination, Disparities in Outcomes, Doctor-Patient Communication, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Katherine Li, Ryan Hannon, and Noah Davis Katherine Li, Ryan Hannon, and Noah Davis aren’t your average medical students. While they come to the profession like so many others, with a genuine desire to provide quality medical care to their future patients; these young professionals already know they will pursue oncology as their […]
While Staying Healthy in Survivorship Can Be Expensive, Many Insurers Offer Programs to Reduce the Cost
/in NCCS News Access to Care, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Financial Toxicity, Health Care Coverage, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsAs cancer survivors strive to maintain healthy lifestyles, many are faced with financial hardships and sacrifices due to the high cost of cancer care. According to the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship’s State of Survivorship Survey: 2022, nearly half of respondents in the survey reported experiencing financial hardships and having to make employment and/or educational […]
Webinar – Reconnecting to Life After Cancer: Permission to Feel
/in NCCS News Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) presents “Reconnecting to Life After Cancer: Permission to Feel,” a webinar featuring Kathy Washburn, a certified holistic cancer coach and cancer survivor. In this webinar you will learn about the evolutionary function of both positive and negative emotions, understand that emotions offer data, and begin to practice awareness […]
The Advocate Within: Tamron Little’s Remarkable Journey of Turning Trauma into Triumph
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Disparities in Outcomes, Doctor-Patient Communication, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Tamron Little Tamron Little was a 21-year-old college student and pregnant with her first child when she was misdiagnosed with a fibroid tumor. She’d been experiencing abdominal pain, anemia, and constipation, all symptoms that could easily be attributed to her pregnancy. After giving birth to her son, and treatment to shrink what doctors […]
The Not-So-Good Cancer: Mary Glen’s Inspiring Advocacy Journey
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Doctor-Patient Communication, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Mary Glen Mary Glen was serving as an active-duty Army officer, deployed to South Korea in August 2020. Just 24 years old, Mary recalls feeling fatigued, experiencing bouts of depression, hair loss, and brittle nails, but her symptoms were initially attributed to the stress of deployment. “In the Army, the doctor who deploys […]
NCCS Presents 8th Annual Ellen L. Stovall Awards to Phuong Gallagher and Mary McCabe, RN for Their Innovation and Dedication to Cancer Survivors
/in Cancer News, NCCS News Access to Care, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 30, 2023 Washington, D.C. – The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) presented the 8th annual Ellen L. Stovall Award for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care to Mary McCabe, RN, MA and Phuong Gallagher on October 26, 2023. Named for former NCCS CEO, Ellen Stovall, who died in 2016 from long-term […]
NCCS, Cancer Leadership Council Express Strong Support for NIH Director Nominee Monica Bertagnolli
/in NCCS News Quality Cancer Care Issue Statements, NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) strongly supports the nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to be the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A surgical oncologist, researcher, and cancer survivor, Dr. Bertagnolli has served as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 2022. NCCS joined other member organizations of the Cancer […]
The Path to Purpose: Marlena Murphy Finds Meaning in the Challenges
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Financial Toxicity, Health Equity, Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making, Survivorship Care Advocate SpotlightAdvocate Spotlight: Marlena Murphy Marlena Murphy’s cancer journey began when she discovered a lump in her left breast during her monthly self-check in May 2018. It was a moment that would change her life forever. Marlena contacted her primary care physician and was immediately scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram. Ultrasound imaging and a biopsy followed, […]
NCCS Presents The State of Cancer Survivorship: 2023 Survey Results
/in NCCS News Access to Care, Care Coordination, Care Planning, Disparities in Outcomes, Doctor-Patient Communication, Drug Pricing, Health Equity, Integrative Oncology, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) conducts an annual State of Survivorship Survey, in partnership with Edge Research, to explore the cancer survivor journey. This study captures a range of perspectives to better understand how NCCS can support its mission to advocate for quality cancer care for everyone touched by cancer. The research was […]
Brett Wilson – Navigating Childhood Cancer and Finding Purpose in Advocacy
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Access to Care, Care Planning, Disparities in Outcomes, Health Equity, Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Brett Wilson Brett Wilson’s cancer experience started when she was just two years old. Her mother was concerned because she was sleeping a lot, so she took her to the doctor. Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), her family was told she had little chance of survival. Her father remembered learning she wasn’t […]
NCCS Submits Comments on 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
/in CMS, NCCS News, Policy Comments Care Planning, Health Equity, Payment Reform, Quality Cancer Care Policy CommentsNCCS submitted a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), offering comments on the Medicare physician fee schedule proposed rule for calendar year 2024. NCCS also joined members of the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) in submitting additional comments in a separate letter. In the letters, NCCS expressed strong support for the proposals […]
Registration Open: 2023 State of Survivorship Survey Results Briefing | October 3
/in NCCS News Access to Care, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) conducts an annual State of Survivorship Survey, in partnership with Edge Research, to delve into the cancer patient and survivor journey. This study captures a range of perspectives to better understand how NCCS can support its mission to advocate for quality cancer care for all. NCCS worked with […]
CMS Announces It Will Retain Breast Reconstruction Codes, A Reversal That Protects Patient Access to DIEP Flap Surgery
/in CMS, NCCS News, Policy Comments Access to Care, DIEP Flap Reconstruction Surgery Access, Health Care Coverage, Quality Cancer Care NCCS News, Policy CommentsYesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will retain procedure codes for breast cancer reconstruction, after hearing feedback from NCCS and other patient advocates, patients, and health care professionals. NCCS asked CMS to retain the S codes for breast reconstruction, so that people in need of breast reconstruction have access […]
Championing Survivorship: Woody Brokenburr’s Lifelong Dedication to Cancer Advocacy
/in Advocate Spotlight, Cancer News, NCCS News Care Coordination, Care Planning, Doctor-Patient Communication, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsWoodrow “Woody” Brokenburr was diagnosed with cancer when he was 9 years old, after a biopsy revealed that the lump on his left thigh was osteosarcoma. In the 1960s, pediatric cancer care was challenging, even more so for Black children living in the racially segregated south, as access to quality care was limited. Effective chemotherapy […]
NCCS Announces New Elevate Ambassadors Selected to Improve Survivorship In Their Communities
/in NCCS News Disparities in Outcomes, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) is proud to announce the participants of the 2023 – 2024 Elevating Survivorship program. After a competitive application process, NCCS selected 10 individuals from across the United States to serve as Elevate Ambassadors. The Elevate Ambassadors will receive mentorship, support, networking opportunities, and training to develop and execute a […]
NCCS to Recognize Phuong Gallagher and Mary McCabe, RN, with 2023 Ellen L. Stovall Award
/in NCCS News Access to Care, Clinical Guidelines, Clinical Trials, Doctor-Patient Communication, Health Equity, Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Quality Measurement, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsNCCS is pleased to announce the 2023 winners of the Ellen L. Stovall Award for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care are Phuong Gallagher and Mary McCabe, RN, MA. They will be recognized at the 2023 Ellen L. Stovall Award Reception on Thursday, October 26, 2023. NCCS presents the Stovall Award annually to two recipients who […]
Championing Survivorship: Nurse Practitioner Sanna Ali’s Dedication to a Career in Cancer Survivorship
/in Advocate Spotlight, Cancer News, NCCS News Care Coordination, Care Planning, Doctor-Patient Communication, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsSanna Ali is a dedicated Nurse Practitioner currently pursuing her PhD in Nursing at The George Washington University. Sanna started her nursing career as a registered nurse in an inpatient pediatric hematology oncology unit. She shares that working with childhood cancer patients had one of the most profound impacts on her life. “The experience was […]
NCCS Board Member in STAT News Op-Ed: CMS must protect access to the ‘gold standard of breast reconstruction’
/in NCCS News Access to Care, DIEP Flap Reconstruction Surgery Access, Health Care Coverage NCCS NewsSTAT News recently published an op-ed by NCCS Board Vice Chair Lisa D. T. Rice on the threat to access of DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery. In 1983, I flew home from college to be with my mother as she woke up from a mastectomy. She opted out of breast reconstruction, choosing to “go flat” […]
NCCS Applauds the Re-Introduction of the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA)
/in NCCS News Access to Care, Care Coordination, Care Planning, Disparities in Outcomes, Doctor-Patient Communication, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Financial Toxicity, Health Equity, Integrative Oncology, Payment Reform, Quality Cancer Care, Quality Measurement NCCS NewsOn Friday, Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10) and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) reintroduced H.R. 4363/S.2213, the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA). This bipartisan legislation addresses the health of cancer survivors throughout the entire continuum of care – from diagnosis to active treatment and post-treatment […]
Arsenic and Advocacy: Sarah Cohn’s Experience with Rare Leukemia Spurs Action
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Doctor-Patient Communication, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making, Survivorship Care Advocate SpotlightDiagnosed with a rare form of leukemia called acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), Sarah Cohn’s cancer diagnosis at the age of 30 took her by surprise. Sarah had just started a new job when symptoms appeared. “For survivors, it seems like there is always one thing that happens that leads directly to their diagnosis, and then […]
NCCS Urges CMS to Preserve Access to DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
/in CMS, NCCS News, Policy Comments Access to Care, DIEP Flap Reconstruction Surgery Access, Drug Pricing, Health Care Coverage NCCS News, Policy CommentsToday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted a public meeting, in which they sought input on its decision to sunset the S code for deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap reconstruction. NCCS has engaged in advocacy, along with other patient advocacy organizations and health care providers, to encourage CMS to reinstate the codes. The decision to end […]
Webinar – Survivorship at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center: Creating a Practical Workflow
/in NCCS News Care Coordination, Care Planning, Clinical Guidelines, Doctor-Patient Communication, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Integrative Oncology, Palliative Care, Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) hosted a Survivorship Champions webinar about survivorship care implementation, “Survivorship at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center: Creating a Practical Workflow.” In this webinar, Dr. Stacy Wentworth and Jill Hyson, MSN, NP-C discuss survivorship care as a critical component of a patient’s cancer journey. The presenters […]
Sandra Finestone, PsyD: Be Bold and Don’t Hesitate – A 30-year Survivor’s Advice on Advocacy
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAdvocate Spotlight: Sandra Finestone, PsyD A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and life-changing, but for Sandra Finestone, it ignited a passion for advocacy that has lasted for more than 30 years. Sandra’s journey as a breast cancer survivor began in her late thirties when she discovered a lump in her breast during a routine check-up. […]
Accessing COVID-19 Resources After the Public Health Emergency Ends
/in HHS, NCCS News Access to Care, COVID-19, Health Care Coverage, Quality Cancer Care Issue Statements, NCCS NewsThe COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), which has been in effect since early 2020, will end on May 11, 2023. The federal government may continue to distribute free COVID-19 tests from its supply of purchased COVID-19 treatments, tests, and vaccines through the United States Postal Service, states, and other community partners. While this supply remains, […]
NCCS Urges Insurance Companies to Preserve Access to DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
/in NCCS News Access to Care, DIEP Flap Reconstruction Surgery Access, Health Care Coverage, Quality Cancer Care Issue Statements, NCCS NewsThis week, NCCS joined other patient advocacy organizations and medical professional societies in submitting a letter to the CEOs of major insurance companies, expressing concerns with recent insurance coverage policy changes that have limited access to DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery. Specifically, the letter asks these insurance companies to engage with individuals who have received […]
Webinar – Amplifying Your Message: Advocating Through Traditional Media Channels
/in NCCS News Quality Cancer Care NCCS NewsNCCS hosted a CPAT webinar on leveraging traditional media for cancer advocacy with public relations and marketing expert Michael Holtz. While social media is an important tool for amplifying cancer advocacy messages, traditional media outlets like newspapers, television, and radio, and their digital counterparts, are still relevant and can help raise awareness and put pressure […]
NCCS and Cancer Leadership Council Issue Comments on Implementation of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
/in CMS, NCCS News, Policy Comments Access to Care, Drug Pricing, Health Care Coverage NCCS News, Policy CommentsNCCS joined with other member organizations of the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) in a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to comment on the Initial Memorandum for Implementation of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. In the letter, NCCS and 10 other cancer organizations — representing cancer patients, health care professionals, […]
Lisa Rice – My Breast Cancer Journey: Many Lessons Learned and More in Store
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News DIEP Flap Reconstruction Surgery Access, Disparities in Outcomes, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsDuring my final semester of college, a life-changing call came. My mother was in the hospital, waiting for results of a biopsy of a tumor she’d found in her breast. My father told me that she’d already decided, if the tumor was malignant, she would proceed with a radical mastectomy […]
Ruth Travis: Cancer Is Not a Death Sentence. It’s a License to Live.
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Disparities in Outcomes, Health Equity Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsRuth Travis knows the power of early detection. She started getting regular mammograms when she was 40 years old. After 22 years, the annual process was nothing new. In 2007, Ruth arrived for her annual screening mammogram […]
NCCS Joins With Patient Advocates and Health Care Professionals to Call on CMS to Ensure Access to DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
/in CMS, Policy Comments Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, DIEP Flap Reconstruction Surgery Access, Health Care Coverage, Quality Cancer Care Policy CommentsWASHINGTON, DC, April 3, 2023 – Advocates for individuals in need of breast reconstruction surgery delivered a letter and petition to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today, urging them to reinstate a procedure code that is essential for access to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction surgery. More than 4,600 […]
NCCS Urges President Biden and Congress to Support and Protect Medicaid
/in NCCS News Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Health Care Coverage Issue Statements, NCCS NewsThis week, NCCS joined with more than 30 patient advocacy organizations as part of the Partnership to Protect Coverage to urge President Biden and Congress to support and protect the Medicaid program during any upcoming fiscal discussions. The letter calls on the White House and Congress to reject changes to Medicaid’s current financing structure and […]
NCCS Advocates for Access to DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Surgery
/in NCCS News Access to Care, DIEP Flap Reconstruction Surgery Access, Health Care Coverage Issue Statements, NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship recently joined the Community Breast Reconstruction Alliance (CBRA), a group of patient advocacy organizations and health care providers who are working together to advocate for access to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction surgery. Patient education regarding breast reconstruction includes a review of options, including breast reconstruction […]
Betsy Glosik: A Cancer Survivor’s Journey Towards Integrative Healing and Advocacy
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Integrative Oncology, Quality Cancer Care, Quality Measurement, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsFor Betsy Glosik, the early 2000s brought one trauma after another. She lost her aunt to melanoma. Then, tragically she lost her 20-yr old daughter to a car accident. In 2003, after years of mentioning her concerns about a mole on her foot to her dermatologist, and repeatedly having her concerns dismissed, Betsy was diagnosed with melanoma…
Webinar – Implementing the ASCO Guidelines for Exercise, Nutrition, and Weight Management with Your Patients and Practice
/in NCCS News Care Coordination, Clinical Guidelines, Doctor-Patient Communication, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) hosted a Survivorship Champions webinar discussing the American Society for Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Guidelines for Exercise, Nutrition, and Weight Management and how to best implement them in a clinical setting. Sami Mansfield, founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, and Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD, RD, a professor of nutrition sciences […]
Webinar – How to Lead a Heart Healthy Life – Norrisa Haynes, MD
/in NCCS News Exercise and Rehabilitation, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsIn this webinar hosted by NCCS, Cardiologist Dr. Norrisa Haynes of Yale University presents the basics of heart disease, including risk factors and the interplay between heart disease and cancer. Heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide, despite medical advancements, and can result from risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, […]
Erin Cummings’s Journey as a Long-Term Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivor
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsDiagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during her freshman year of high school at the age of 15, Erin Cummings recalls finding two lumps and not thinking much of them. “Cancer was the farthest thing from my mind,” she said. When her sister later noticed the lumps, Erin finally told her mom and found herself in the hospital […]
Sharon Rivera-Sanchez: Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survivor Finds Passion in Fitness and Advocacy
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Access to Care, Clinical Trials, Disparities in Outcomes, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Financial Toxicity, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAs a Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor, Sharon turned her personal experience into a passion for advocacy and giving back to the community. When she received her diagnosis in May 2015, she remembers being in a state of shock and grief. She said, “You have to allow yourself time to breathe and grieve.”
NCCS Celebrates Launch of Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act
/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog, NCCS News Access to Care, Care Coordination, Care Planning, Doctor-Patient Communication, Payment Reform, Quality Cancer Care NCCS NewsRepresentative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), a champion for cancer survivors and a survivor herself, held a press conference today to introduce the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA), new comprehensive survivorship legislation that will directly benefit cancer survivors. She was joined by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who will lead the legislation in […]
Alique Topalian: Childhood Cancer and the Frightening Realities of the Survivorship Journey
/in Advocate Spotlight, Cancer News, NCCS News Care Coordination, Care Planning, Doctor-Patient Communication, Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAlique was first diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at the age of four. Her mother, Michele, knew something was wrong because “the light in her eyes was gone”. After being told by doctors that there was nothing wrong, her family was relentless until new blood work uncovered blast cells.
NCCS Joins Cancer Leadership Council in Urging Congress to Include Priorities in Year-End Package
/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog, Congress, NCCS News, Policy Comments Access to Care, Clinical Trials, COVID-19, Health Equity, Payment Reform, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Issue Statements, NCCS News, Policy CommentsNCCS joined with other member organizations of the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) in a letter urging Congress to include several key provisions in an end-of-year legislative package. In the letter, NCCS and 14 other cancer organizations, representing cancer patients, health care professionals, researchers, and caregivers, stressed that action on these issues would enhance cancer patients’ […]
NCCS Presents 7th Annual Ellen L. Stovall Award to Patricia Ganz, MD, and Alicia Staley for their Dedication to Improving Cancer Care
/in Uncategorized Quality Cancer Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship hosted the 7th annual Ellen L. Stovall Award for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care Awards Reception on November 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. NCCS proudly presented the 2022 Stovall Awards to two remarkable champions for patient-centered cancer in the cancer community: Patricia Ganz, MD, and Alicia Staley. Laurie Isenberg, […]
Amanda Helms: Care Planning, Mental Health, and Palliative Care are Essential to Quality Cancer Care
/in Advocate Spotlight, NCCS News Care Planning, COVID-19, Palliative Care, Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care Advocate Spotlight, NCCS NewsAmanda Helms was enjoying a bubble bath while reading a book when she looked down and noticed a lump on the side of her breast in January of 2020. She had a bad feeling about it instantly, even though she had no family history or risk factors. She went to her family doctor who referred […]
NCCS Presents The State of Cancer Survivorship: 2022 Survey Results
/in Cancer News, NCCS News Access to Care, Care Coordination, Care Planning, Clinical Guidelines, Clinical Trials, Disparities in Outcomes, Doctor-Patient Communication, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Financial Toxicity, Health Equity, Psychosocial Care, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) conducts an annual State of Survivorship Survey, in partnership with Edge Research, to delve into the cancer patient and survivor journey. This study captures a range of perspectives to better understand how NCCS can support its mission to advocate for quality cancer care for all. The 2022 State […]
NCCS Mourns the Loss of Lori Wilson, MD, FACS
/in Uncategorized Disparities in Outcomes, Doctor-Patient Communication, Health Equity, Quality Cancer Care, Survivorship Care NCCS NewsThe NCCS community is mourning the loss of Lori Wilson, MD, FACS. Dr. Wilson was a skilled oncology surgeon, a passionate educator, and a dedicated mother. She was also living with metastatic breast cancer and was a voice for cultural humility in healthcare. She weaved her lived experience into her professional life to give hope […]