Overcoming Barriers: Empowering Underrepresented Groups With Endometrial Cancer

Overcoming Barriers: Empowering Underrepresented Groups with Endometrial Cancer from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

 How can endometrial cancer care barriers be overcome for underrepresented groups? Expert Dr. Emily Hinchcliff from Northwestern Medicine discusses racial and cultural barriers and advice to patients to be proactive toward receiving optimal care.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…know the genetic status of your tumor, specifically something called the mismatch repair status of your tumor. And then not only how does that status impact your own treatment, but also how that may impact your family members…understand what resources are out there for you as a patient, especially for women in underserved groups and minority populations.”

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Innovative Approaches to Endometrial Cancer Care in Underrepresented Communities

Innovative Approaches to Endometrial Cancer Care in Underrepresented Communities

Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities | The Impact of Rural Residence

Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities: The Impact of Rural Residence

Transcript:

Lisa:

Dr. Hinchcliff, in your research, you dive deeply into the significant disparities that exist within medically underserved and minority populations in the U.S. when it comes to awareness of, access to, and the use of genetic services in endometrial cancer. Can you speak to the research and provide tips to these patients and families?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff: 

Yeah, so I think that there are sort of two different pieces that go on here. First is the relationship of endometrial cancer, that some of it can be, I guess, at random, and some of it can be genetic. So understanding, especially for those who have a strong family history, that there are hereditary forms of endometrial cancer. I think that’s a really important point for patients to take away. And then we, as a society, as a field, now recommend kind of routine screening for those tests to determine, Is an endometrial cancer hereditary or not? So make sure that you, as a patient, know your results and know if your family members should be tested in any way.

The second is regarding the significant disparities that exist. We know, as a field, as a kind of medical subspecialty, that there is a racial disparity in endometrial cancer mortality. While there is a lot of research going on to address the kind of potential biologic component there, is there something different about the cancers that are developed in different racial groups? I think there’s also really important research going on about the kind of systemic and cultural barriers and differences that women of different races experience that also can dramatically impact their cancer care.

Lisa:

And do you have an activation tip for this question?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

I’ll give you two different activation tips. I think that the first is to know the genetic status of your tumor, specifically something called the mismatch repair status of your tumor. And then not only how does that status impact your own treatment, but also how that may impact your family members. And then I think the second is to understand what resources are out there for you as a patient, especially for women in underserved groups and minority populations. Simply obtaining support can often be a really important key first step to gaining access and understanding of your disease.


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Innovative Approaches to Endometrial Cancer Care in Underrepresented Communities

Innovative Approaches to Endometrial Cancer Care in Underrepresented Communities from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

How can endometrial cancer care use innovative approaches in underrepresented communities? Expert Dr. Emily Hinchcliff from Northwestern Medicine discusses diagnostic testing tools and support in navigating clinical trials.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“… doing your own research and your own reading is really important, being your own advocate. But I think that your physician can serve as an excellent, almost medical translator to understand what is right for you and which of the many, many novel things that we are discovering every day is applicable to you and which might be good for you and which don’t actually apply or which are not potentially your best option in that side.”

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Overcoming Barriers: Empowering Underrepresented Groups With Endometrial Cancer

Overcoming Barriers: Empowering Underrepresented Groups With Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities | The Impact of Rural Residence

Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities: The Impact of Rural Residence

Transcript:

Lisa:

Dr. Hinchcliff, are there any innovative approaches or technologies that you and your team are exploring to improve endometrial detection, treatment, or support services, especially for your underrepresented communities with limited access to healthcare resources?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

Yeah, so there are many, many different things that we’re doing here that we’re very excited about. I think I’ll probably highlight two. So one of the ones that I have been working on closely is there is an ever-increasing number of diagnostic testing tools that we have within our kind of armamentarium. And so one particular test that patients may have read about or heard about is something called circulating tumor DNA. And this is a pretty novel test that I will be completely open and honest that we don’t totally know how to use or how to incorporate in our cancer surveillance, meaning so once someone is diagnosed,  is this a test that can help us to watch to see if treatments are working or watch to see if a cancer may have come back? Similarly, can it be used as a screening tool? We just don’t know that, and so that’s an area that I am actively working in.

The other thing that one of my colleagues here is working on is trying to really create access for women who have limited access to healthcare. So we have developed a clinical trial platform to allow the women, specifically of Chicago, to better understand their options for clinical trials across the institutions in Chicago. So we have at Northwestern multiple cutting-edge endometrial cancer trials trying to bring these novel therapeutics to the forefront and to patients and also to thoughtfully triage patients to kind of treatments that we think are going to maximize their effectiveness and minimize toxicity.

But similar to us, the other institutions around Chicago have a different panel of clinical trials. And so for patients, it can be really overwhelming to know which trial, which institution, how do I know, how do I access all of that? And so we’re working to create a platform for patients and to have clinical navigators associated to help them to understand their options.

Lisa:

And do you have an activation tip?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

So I think that when patients are thinking about innovation and how can they make sure that they are at the cutting edge, I think that your physician is really your access point. So obviously, doing your own research and your own reading is really important, being your own advocate. But I think that your physician can serve as an excellent, almost medical translator to understand what is right for you and which of the many, many novel things that we are discovering every day is applicable to you and which might be good for you and which don’t actually apply or which are not potentially your best option in that side.


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Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

How can endometrial cancer care barriers be overcome in regards to geographic location? Expert Dr. Emily Hinchcliff from Northwestern Medicine discusses geographic care barriers, solutions, and patient advice to be proactive in their care.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…understanding that post-menopausal bleeding is never normal and that you need to see a physician for that…regarding the fact that accessing care can be, as you mentioned, done in many, many different ways these days. And so understanding what your options are, whether that’s telehealth, whether that’s a consult visit and then receiving the majority of the subsequent care closer to home, you have a lot of options.”

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise

Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise?

Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities | The Impact of Rural Residence

Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities: The Impact of Rural Residence

Transcript:

Lisa:

If a woman goes in and is diagnosed at her local cancer center and has endometrial cancer, should she see some type of subspecialist, would it be of benefit to that patient maybe to even do a consult, a telemedicine consult at least upon diagnosis? Or how can a person who is more remote geographically access a subspecialist care or expertise?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff: 

Yeah, absolutely. So I think that telehealth has really changed medicine in general and provides some really great opportunities for access. There is a big kind of dichotomy in endometrial cancer where early stage disease is often caught because it has a symptom, vaginal bleeding is a symptom. And so early stage disease can often be treated with surgery alone.

And so that surgical management, again, can potentially be done by a GYN oncologist at a one single time point. The subsequent care, so I’ll just use myself as an example. I will often see women for sort of that initial visit, treatment decision, sometimes surgery, but then if they need additional adjuvant therapy, such as chemotherapy, they’ll go closer to home to receive some of those therapies. And then I will serve as a bit of a consultant to their providers closer to home to discuss what treatment options, what regimens and how to manage toxicities might be good in their case.

Lisa:

And do you have an activation tip for patients for that question?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

Yeah, so I think that my activation tip here regarding barriers to endometrial cancer care is first and foremost addressing the knowledge gap, understanding that post-menopausal bleeding is never normal and that you need to see a physician for that, I think is the first key tip. The second tip, I guess, if I could give a second activation tip, is regarding the fact that accessing care can be, as you mentioned, done in many, many different ways these days. And so understanding what your options are, whether that’s telehealth, whether that’s a consult visit and then receiving the majority of the subsequent care closer to home, you have a lot of options. And we as a field in GYN oncology are really collaborative. And I think most of us would feel very positively towards creating a team to help you get the care you need.


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Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities: The Impact of Rural Residence

Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities: The Impact of Rural Residence from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What kind of care disparities do endometrial cancer patients from rural areas face? Expert Dr. Emily Hinchcliff from Northwestern Medicine shares her perspective on obstacles for patient care in rural areas and patient advice to help ensure optimal care.

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise

Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise?

Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Transcript:

Lisa:

Dr. Hinchcliff, can you speak to barriers faced by rural endometrial cancer patients, those living in rural areas, and are there specific challenges that these women in rural areas face in accessing timely and quality healthcare services for endometrial cancer screening and treatment?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff: 

Absolutely. So, when I think of barriers, I think that barriers can be broken into some really key steps along the kind of diagnosis continuum. So certainly, a patient needs to understand that the symptom that they’re having is a problem. Then they need to see that problem and seek care. Then once they have established care they need to obtain a diagnosis. And then once you have a diagnosis, you need to get treated. And so I would suspect that those living remote from major hospital centers or from subspecialty care probably experience delays at each single one of those time points.

First, I think a knowledge gap probably exists about what bleeding should be, especially for postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal bleeding is not normal. And so even a small episode of spotting should warrant a visit to your physician. And then I think for those who see their physician, who have a less kind of either geographic or less access for whatever reason, there’s probably a greater prolongation of the series of visits that are required before they get the necessary endometrial sampling and a transvaginal ultrasound, which are really core tests when it comes to diagnosis.

Once the diagnosis is obtained, I think that the further referral and potential delay to someone like myself, like a GYN oncologist, is also a key barrier for those who are rural. There’s actually a really good study in gynecologic specifically in the Midwest that showed that rural women were significantly less likely to receive care from a subspecialist like myself.  I think that particular study was in endometrial, sorry in ovarian cancer, but it showed that those who receive care by a specialist are more likely to get optimal surgery and to get guideline-inherent care. So getting yourself to that subspecialist, I think is really key, but can be difficult for women who live remote from subspecialty care.


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Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What are endometrial cancer risk factors for patients should know about? Expert Dr. Emily Hinchcliff from Northwestern Medicine discusses endometrial cancer risk factors, incidence and mortality rates, and patient advice to help guard against endometrial cancer.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…lifestyle modification is really important here. Obesity is a known risk factor for endometrial cancer. So working with your primary care physician to try to improve your health more generally, especially as it surrounds weight, is really important in terms of endometrial cancer prevention. I also think it’s important to know…that obesity and changing your obesity can impact your cancer’s response to certain therapies, especially with hormonal therapy.”

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise

Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise?

Overcoming Barriers: Empowering Underrepresented Groups With Endometrial Cancer

Overcoming Barriers: Empowering Underrepresented Groups With Endometrial Cancer

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Transcript:

Lisa:

Dr. Hinchcliff, for patients wondering about their risk, what are risk factors for endometrial cancer, and what should patients be aware of?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

So I think that it’s really important to highlight that endometrial cancer is one of the few cancers that is actually increasing in both number and also mortality. The numbers from the American Cancer Society for 2024 are over 70,000 women, or around 70,000 women will be diagnosed, and around 13,000 women will die of their disease. And I think that unlike many cancers where we’re actually making progress, endometrial cancer, the incidence, how many people are getting it is rising. And it’s rising faster in non-white ethnicities and groups.

So as I think about risk factors, I think the important ones to highlight are certainly obesity. This I think is a large driver of why there is increasing incidence of endometrial cancer. This relates to kind of the hormonal regulation. Obesity results in increasing levels of estrogen that disproportionately affect the endometrium. And then similar to that, certain hormonal syndromes where women have irregular or infrequent periods like polycystic ovarian syndrome can also put them at higher risk. More globally, I think age, family history are also risk factors. And then as I mentioned, unfortunately, women who are non-white have a higher risk of endometrial cancer mortality, especially as relates to some of the higher risk endometrial cancer subtypes.

Lisa:

Do you have an activation tip for patients for that question?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff: 

Yeah, so I think that lifestyle modification is really important here. Obesity is a known risk factor for endometrial cancer. So working with your primary care physician to try to improve your health more generally, especially as it surrounds weight, is really important in terms of endometrial cancer prevention. I also think it’s important to know, given that this is often a patient audience that I’m speaking to, that obesity and changing your obesity can impact your cancer’s response to certain therapies, especially with hormonal therapy. So for women who are diagnosed with early stage endometrial cancer, for example, who may desire fertility preservation or may want to know what they can do to impact their own cancer care, I think that’s a really important point.

I guess I can also just bring up a quick one-liner regarding the recent publication of studies surrounding hair product use. So this is a question that we have been getting asked a lot after the publication of both the study and then the big New York Times article, but there was an NIH study that showed a potential association between hair product chemical straightener use and uterine cancer, especially for those who identify as frequent users. I think that the important key point here is that around 60 percent of the women who reported using hair products self-identified as Black and tend to initiate use earlier, so this is another risk factor that may be important.

Yeah, we’re still learning a lot more about that. Right now, there’s an unclear association in terms of what we should be doing about it.


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Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise?

Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Which endometrial cancer clinical trials are showing encouraging results? Expert Dr. Emily Hinchcliff from Northwestern Medicine shares insight about novel therapies and combinations and advice for patients to be proactive in their care. 

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…understand what clinical trials are available to your physician and to you at the place that you are currently getting treated. And then also understand more globally what other clinical trials might be out there. And that’s a great question to ask your physician.”

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities | The Impact of Rural Residence

Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities: The Impact of Rural Residence

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Transcript:

Lisa:

What ongoing clinical trials are investigating novel therapies for advanced endometrial cancer? And can you provide some insights into any promising experimental treatments that have shown encouraging results in early phase trials?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff

Absolutely. So I think that the use of immunotherapy in endometrial cancer has been a true game changer.  It has changed the landscape of how we think about treating this disease. I think the cutting edge now is to try and understand whether immunotherapy in combination with our more traditional chemotherapy, cytotoxic chemotherapies that basically kill cells rapidly dividing as compared to immunotherapy, which helps to kill cancer cells by using the immune system. So should we be using immunotherapy in addition to, or even instead of some of those traditional chemotherapy options? There are also many, many clinical trials that are investigating novel combinations and novel targeted agents, especially for the high-risk tumor subsets.

So endometrial cancer is a broad umbrella term for many different subtypes. And the higher risk subtypes often are those that are harder to treat with our standard therapies. And so many trials are specifically trying to target better options for these patients. I think that one trial that I will just highlight in addition to some of the immunotherapies are immune therapy combinations with what are called anti-angiogenics. So drugs that try to prevent the tumor from growing its own blood supply.

And then also immunotherapy in combination with another class of drugs called PARP inhibitors which are more commonly used in ovarian cancer but which in combination with immunotherapy may be a new avenue for effective treatment.

Lisa:

And do you have an activation tip for patients for that question?

 Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

Absolutely, so I think that my activation tip for patients surrounding novel therapies in endometrial cancer is to understand what clinical trials are available to your physician and to you at the place that you are currently getting treated. And then also understand more globally what other clinical trials might be out there.

And that’s a great question to ask your physician. I think that your physician can help you to decide is a standard of care therapy the right choice for you at this point in your treatment, in your cancer journey, or are you at a point where a clinical trial may be of benefit either because of the expected efficacy of the standard of care, or because of the potential benefits of that clinical trial, or even because of the side effect profiles of either of those options.


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What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials

What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What do endometrial cancer patients need to know about clinical trials? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains the importance of clinical trial participation for all patients and shares advice for patients to improve their clinical trial access. 

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 their provider, one, are clinicals trial offered at their institution. And second, if it’s not offered at the institution, do you think that, are there any other institutions that may offer trials for the patient?”

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

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Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments _ Promising Data and Challenges

Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments | Promising Data and Challenges

Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider

Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider

What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer

What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, why is clinical trial participation so important in endometrial cancer? What advice do you have for patients considering a clinical trial?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So I think clinical trial participation is important in endometrial cancer. Number one, the rate of Black women getting advanced and aggressive endometrial cancer is on the rise. The representation in these trials are different. What’s different is not only the patient, the tumor type is different. How do we know that these same patients that’s not in the trials are going to respond to this treatment? That’s what I always ask. I’m like, maybe they don’t respond as well, because that’s a different disease type, right?

So we recently looked at a trial where most of the patients had an endometrioid type of endometrial cancer, whereas I, in my practice, I see a lot of Black women who don’t have endometrioid type. They may have a serous type, which is a more aggressive type or a carcinosarcoma. So I don’t know if I can really apply that to this, to that the medication.

That’s all I have, but how do I know that she’s going to respond in the same way? So I think it’s definitely important. I recently had a patient that I referred to a clinical trial. And she really was struggling with whether she should do it or not. And one of the things that I said to her is, “I think it’s important. One, you’re going to have access to advanced treatment options that are not there now.” And I said, also I said, “Not that she has to take it for a whole group, but we need to have more information on the type of cancer you have.” And I was like, “And Black women are dying, and we need this information to know if this is the same.” And she instantly was like, “I’m going, I’m doing it.” And I mean, not that she has to take, but we need to know more. And I think it’s very important that we have patients with access to trials.

Mikki:

Yes. Do you have an activation tip for those patients that you see?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

I think asking their provider, one, are clinical trials offered at their institution. And second, if it’s not offered at the institution, do you think that, are there any other institutions that may offer trials for the patient? There are sometimes where patients don’t have the opportunity to travel elsewhere and need to be in their community for work, family, etcetera. So I understand the asking. 


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Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider

Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What do endometrial cancer patients need to consider for treatment options? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains key factors that play into treatment decisions and recommended questions for patients to ask their doctor.

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 right questions in terms of “How effective is this treatment that you’re recommending? Do you think it’s worth the side effects? Is my quality of life going to be affected? Can I still travel?”

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

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Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments _ Promising Data and Challenges

Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments | Promising Data and Challenges

What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials

What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials

What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer

What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, how do you work with your patients to make treatment decisions and what increase in treatment options, what should endometrial cancer patients consider when deciding on treatment?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So I think this is a good question. In terms of patients up front, I think we follow kind of certain guidelines, if you will and providing standard of care and the first frontline therapy is pretty standard, right? In terms of advanced treatment, when patients recur and we have to look at alternate treatment therapies, I always look at the patient, I always look at what their medical problems are or any side effects. And, of course, the data to see how well are they going to do what side effects and quality of life?

There are numerous factors that are not just something looking in a book and say, “Okay, I’ll take A,” right? Like I think we have to look at all of that and make a decision with our patients over undergoing the side effects, the efficacy, all of these things that are in mind when we talk to patients. So my activation tip for patients would be being involved in the decision-making, asking the right questions in terms of “How effective is this treatment that you’re recommending? Do you think it’s worth the side effects? Is my quality of life going to be affected? Can I still travel?” Those are questions like, we want to live, right? And I don’t think anybody wants to be stuck every three weeks getting treatment or…so those are questions to ask in terms of like, quality of life. And so those are questions that I would recommend you ask your doctor when you’re deciding what treatments. 


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Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments | Promising Data and Challenges

Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments | Promising Data and Challenges from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What is the latest in endometrial cancer treatment updates? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares updates from the RUBY study and one NRG study and provides advice for patients.

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

“…if someone’s diagnosed with endometrial cancer, ‘Am I a candidate for a clinical trial to be a part of this new frontier, if you will, for endometrial cancer?’”

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

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Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider

Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider

What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials

What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials

What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer

What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, what endometrial cancer data and studies coming out of major medical conferences are you most excited about? And can you speak to those kinks and challenges or promises of emerging treatments?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

Well, Mikki, I’m very excited. The SGO 2023 in Tampa, Florida, we had new data that came out from one of the NRG studies as well as another study called the RUBY Study. And both were looking at up-front carboplatin (Paraplatin) and paclitaxel (Abraxane) with the addition of immunotherapy. And we saw improved progression-free survival. So that means when the disease is no longer there, how long are patients living without it recurring, and that has increased. So this is a big deal.

And then one of the studies showed again, the data is still maturing so it’s not completely out there yet. So we still have to wait on it, but there may be improved overall survival. And that’s kind of one of the study goals that we always want to do is improve overall survival. So I’m excited about that. There was also some new data looking at whether up-front patients with advanced endometrial cancer, whether they are treated with systemic chemotherapy versus systemic chemotherapy and radiation.

And this is a long ongoing survival data that said, patients basically did equally well with just chemotherapy alone without the addition of radiation. So that I think is very interesting, because we use radiation and chemotherapy in patients with advanced endometrial cancer. That certainly doesn’t mean that it’s not an option, just means that it may need to be more tailored and discussed and discussed with our radiation oncology colleagues.

In terms of what the challenges are, I think immunotherapy is a game changer. But it’s also what I use in terms of second-line treatment. So now I’m using it up front. What happens if a patient recurs while on it? What am I going to do now? That’s my question. What am I going to do next? And I’m not too worried because there are new treatment options that are out. Again, they are not necessarily standard now, but they’re ongoing in clinical trials. So I’m not too worried. But definitely some questions that cross my mind. My activation tip for this for patients is if someone’s diagnosed with endometrial cancer, “Am I a candidate for a clinical trial to be a part of this new frontier, if you will, for endometrial cancer?” 


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What Is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer?

What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What is the role of immunotherapy in endometrial cancer care? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares immunotherapy research updates from the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and advice for patients.

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, if someone is being recommended to start chemotherapy which is typically carboplatin paclitaxel, asking, “Am I a candidate for immunotherapy?’”

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

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Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider

Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider

What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials

What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials

Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments _ Promising Data and Challenges

Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments | Promising Data and Challenges

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, what is the role for immunotherapy for patients with advanced endometrial cancer?

Dr. Hoskins:

Well, I’m not sure if you have heard, Mikki, both this year at our 2023 Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, there are two research studies that show immunotherapy improved progression-free survival in patients with metastatic or advanced endometrial cancer. One of the studies even showed improvement in overall survival. And this data is still ongoing and collected and needs more maturity.

But this is a big deal that we can now offer not just chemotherapy but immunotherapy up front, meaning up front now to patients and improved progression-free survival and possibly overall survival. Again, the data is still maturing. So, to know that, but this is something that I didn’t offer one year ago to my patients, that now I can offer. So this is a big deal. If you haven’t figured that out, it’s a big deal.

So in terms of my activation tip for this question, I think asking the question, if someone is being recommended to start chemotherapy which is typically carboplatin paclitaxel (Paraplatin Abraxane), asking, “Am I a candidate for immunotherapy?’ May or may not be, but I think that’s the question. “Am I a candidate?” That’s what I would ask.


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What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer?

What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What are the latest advanced endometrial cancer treatment options? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares updates about research advances and advice for newly diagnosed patients to be proactive in 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

“…if a patient is newly diagnosed with endometrial cancer, is going in, knowing that we have more molecular markers, ‘Hey, are you going to send my tumor for next-generation sequencing, or are you going to be looking at the tumor for more information about targets that we could use for treatment?’

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

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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?

How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care

How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Okay. Dr. Hoskins, fortunately, the endometrial cancer arsenal keeps expanding. What promising treatments are available to patients facing advanced endometrial cancer diagnosis?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So, in recent years, we’ve had more research dollars into endometrial cancer that wasn’t there, say even five to 10 years ago. Some of the promising treatments that are coming about, are treatments that look at the molecular markers, meaning when we look at the tumor, and determining what proteins that are upregulated or down, now we have treatments that can more target, if you will, the specific cancer. So I think, these are definitely promising.

Other promising things that are occurring is that we are having more clinical trials that are offered for patients with advanced endometrial cancer that I know in my earlier years in practice or even in training, that just were not there. So I think this is a good time in the advancement in terms of endometrial cancer.

So my activation tip for this would be if a patient is newly diagnosed with endometrial cancer, is going in, knowing that we have more molecular markers, “Hey, are you going to send my tumor for next-generation sequencing, or are you going to be looking at the tumor for more information about targets that we could use for treatment?”

So those are questions that as a patient you can ask, because now these treatments are covered, and the testing is covered. And so we’re in a different realm than we were say, even five to 10 years ago. 


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How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care?

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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See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

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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?

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

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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?

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?

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?

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

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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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