How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care?

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How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

How can endometrial cancer patients empower themselves for better care? Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares advice for patients who feel dismissed or unheard when seeing their care provider.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…seek alternate care or another opinion. I think it’s very important that patients have a doctor that they trust and feel like they can ask questions for. I don’t, I really don’t think it’s okay to be dismissed.”

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What Treatment Options and Factors Should Be Considered for Endometrial Cancer

What Treatment Options and Factors Should Be Considered for Endometrial Cancer?

 Are Endometrial Cancer Outcomes Worse for Minority Patients

Are Endometrial Cancer Outcomes Worse for Underrepresented Patients?

 What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer

What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, what is your message to women who speak up and their concerns are dismissed and aren’t taken seriously?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

Well, Mikki, do you want to know my real answer? I don’t think you do. But I’m going to tell you anyway. So anytime I hear a patient that say they did not feel heard, I always say, “You understand that you can get a different provider, right?” So that also means that if a patient does not have the trust anytime you don’t have trust, you don’t have a relationship, and that it’s okay to find a different provider, or a doctor to make sure that you’re heard. And I have seen women who don’t have any type of gynecologic cancer who have come to my office for a second opinion. And when it, and I say, well, “Why are you here?” And they said, “Well, I was really looking for someone that looked like me that I could trust to tell me, because when I asked these questions, I was dismissed.”

And so I was happy to give the opinion, but really sad that this particular patient had to travel to see someone that they really didn’t need to see, to get an answer that she was actually looking for, and not looking for the wrong answer. She just wasn’t, her question wasn’t being answered. And so I think if you don’t have the trust, there are other providers in our communities and getting those names from either a primary care provider you know, and I always hit or miss on the online thing from family members, friends about doctors that they like or that have a good reputation in terms of listening to their patients.

Mikki:

I also have one patient, I mean not a patient. I have a connect that dealt with this, this right here. And she went to several doctors before she got her diagnosis and which means time had spanned in between that time and her trying to look and saying, “Hey, this is what’s wrong. This is what I’m feeling. I know it can’t be this.” And she’s just going from doctor to doctor. And in between that time she missed some care that she had needed in that time. So what would be your activation tip for someone like that?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins: 

I think, just like I said before, seek alternate care or another opinion. I think it’s very important that patients have a doctor that they trust and feel like they can ask questions for. I don’t, I really don’t think it’s okay to be dismissed. 

Mikki:

Thank you so much.

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Are Endometrial Cancer Outcomes Worse for Underrepresented Patients?

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Are Endometrial Cancer Outcomes Worse for Underrepresented Patients? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo. 

How do endometrial cancer outcomes compare for patients from marginalized groups? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares risk factors for optimal endometrial cancer care and advice for patients to receive assistance for their care.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…asking the question about their risk. If someone is not insured, asking the hospital or a cancer center that’s there about any resources that are available to say, patients who are uninsured or underinsured, there are programs that are there. And even for medications, some of the manufacturers have programs that pay for medications.”

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

What Treatment Options and Factors Should Be Considered for Endometrial Cancer

What Treatment Options and Factors Should Be Considered for Endometrial Cancer?

 How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care

How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care?

 What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer

What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, is endometrial cancer worse for a marginalized population? And are there any specific risk factors that put some at risk more than others?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So I think marginalized populations, I think we could say minority populations, we can say Black women, we can say Hispanic women, and we can say people who, I’m trying to define, if you were the marginalized, patients who don’t have access to care. Yes. I definitely think that you could or they could have a worse outcome, whether it’s for lack of access for someone who may not be insured or for patients who may be in this country without proper documentation getting the medical care that they may need. Yeah, I think it can certainly be and I’ve seen those. I think risk factors, and we’ve talked about race as being a risk factor, and again, access to care is certainly a risk factor.

I think those are probably the bigger risk, if you will. So my activation tip for patients would be asking the question about their risk. If someone is not insured, asking the hospital or a cancer center that’s there about any resources that are available to say, patients who are uninsured or underinsured, there are programs that are there. And even for medications, some of the manufacturers have programs that pay for medications. So I think in asking the ask the question, I have no problem asking a question, right. So we, I think asking for yourself is not going to hurt.

Mikki:

Okay. Well, Dr. Hoskins, we know the endometrial cancer outcomes among populations that are disadvantaged. How are you and your colleagues changing this?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So disadvantaged populations could be patients who live in rural areas, patients with gender identity changes. So I think in terms of that, I think our Society of Gynecologic Oncology recognize it. I think number one, we have to recognize who the people are, and who these populations are. And then at least from our most recent annual meeting have noted more, talks that are about it. So it’s just more education that we are, seeing in, again, even more, some more data, particularly with patients that live in rural communities where they have lack of access to say a gynecologic oncologist, where they have to travel. And so I think one, recognizing it, and in terms of what’s being done I think there’s more to come. My activation tip for patients would be if you are in a disadvantaged population, perhaps inquiring with let’s say local groups that you are aligned to or even let’s say someone who may live in a rural community to figure out where they can get the best care that’s local to home. So, and I mean, these are things that we recognize that may be coming about soon. 

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What Treatment Options and Factors Should Be Considered for Endometrial Cancer?

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What Treatment Options and Factors Should Be Considered for Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Endometrial cancer treatment options take different factors into account, but what are they? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains key factors that play into treatment decisions and shares advice to be proactive in your care. 

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…asking your doctor based off the stage and grade, ‘What is the standard of care?’”

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

Are Endometrial Cancer Outcomes Worse for Minority Patients

Are Endometrial Cancer Outcomes Worse for Underrepresented Patients?

 How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care

How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care?

 What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer

What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, please walk us through a treatment option for endometrial cancer by stage, and what other factors should be considered when making treatment, the decisions?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So this question used to be so easy where I would say, okay, if you had stage I, if someone is diagnosed with stage I, they don’t need any further treatment. If they have stage two, they may need radiation. Stage III and IV, typically chemotherapy and radiation. And I think what makes the difference in this question now is that it all depends not just in stage, but the type of cancer or the grade. So it’s one is the extent of disease. And the second question is the type of cancer. So some there could be a higher risk endometrial cancer, that’s early stage where we may need to give chemotherapy.

So I think my activation tip for this question would be asking your doctor based off the stage and grade, “What is the standard of care?” We always want standard of care, because that’s a golden standard in terms of treatment. And looking at all the options are into that care. Usually standard of care is either usually one, maybe two options. And I think looking at the whole scenario in terms of the patient, any other side effects that they may have, medications or diagnosis.

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What Role Does Hormone Therapy Play in Endometrial Cancer?

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What Role Does Hormone Therapy Play in Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What part can hormone therapy play in endometrial cancer treatment? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains patient situations that typically work well with hormonal therapy and shares advice for patients to help ensure their best care.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

How to Explain Endometrial Cancer to Newly Diagnosed Patients

How to Explain Endometrial Cancer to Newly Diagnosed Patients

 What Disparities Exist in Treating Patients with Endometrial Cancer

What Disparities Exist in Treating Patients with Endometrial Cancer?

 What Is the Role of Surgery in Treating Endometrial Cancer

What Is the Role of Surgery in Treating Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

How does hormone therapy play in endometrial cancer treatment?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

I think there is a role for some patients for endometrial cancer with use of hormonal therapy, I would typically say either patients may not need any treatment at all or may need more in, I should say more adjuvant treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation. There are sometimes I use hormonal treatment in patients who may have a recurrence that do not have symptoms, and they’re looking for an option with minimal side effects and in…not inconvenient for them. So I don’t use it say on a daily or weekly basis, but there are some times where I may use hormonal treatment.

Mikki:

Awesome. Any things that I should ask the doctor if that’s presented to me? Or any tips that I should have or should have had? [laughter]

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:  

I think in terms of hormonal things, the treatment or any treatment for that matter is understand what the options are, and also recognizing options aren’t just like something that’s on the menu that you get to choose what you have. But hopefully if you have a relationship with your doctor that you’re getting one, number one, the standard of care and then to discuss what the options are in specifically for you as a patient or anybody that’s recently diagnosed.

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What Is the Role of Surgery in Treating Endometrial Cancer?

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What Is the Role of Surgery in Treating Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What part can surgery take in endometrial cancer treatment? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares her perspective about the role of surgery in treatment and explains situations when surgery may be delayed.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

How to Explain Endometrial Cancer to Newly Diagnosed Patients

How to Explain Endometrial Cancer to Newly Diagnosed Patients

 What Disparities Exist in Treating Patients with Endometrial Cancer

What Disparities Exist in Treating Patients with Endometrial Cancer?

 What Role Does Hormone Therapy Play in Endometrial Cancer

What Role Does Hormone Therapy Play in Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Let’s talk about surgical options within endometrial cancers. What is the role of surgery in treatment of endometrial cancer?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

Well, I always say that our number one mode of treatment is surgery, meaning that’s the first thing that we want to do is actually remove the cancer. So, surgery is like the number one role and one it helps diagnose, it helps stage, and it helps with treatment. And so surgery, again, it’s number one. In terms of like my activation tip for a patient should ask is, what is the role of surgery, and what are the modes of surgery? Meaning, now we have minimally invasive surgery, we have sometimes the standard exploratory laparotomy surgery, so there are other options that were totally not available even 10 or 15 years ago that we have now for patients who are diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

Mikki:

Is there a time that surgery is not recommended or that they don’t ask or require that?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

Any patient that I have that has endometrial cancer, I’m going to figure out how I can get them to surgery. There are very infrequent times where a patient may have had, say, a pulmonary embolism or other medical complications before we can get to surgery. And at that time, we may have to delay a bit, and it all kind of depends on the scenario, but ultimately we always need to get to surgery, because that’s our number one kind of mode of a treatment, diagnosis, and staging.

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