Tag Archive for: cancer disparities

The Pap Smear That Changed Everything | Lori’s Cervical Cancer Story

/in , , , , , /by

Lori, a 40-year-old mother, shares how a routine Pap smear led to a cervical cancer diagnosis and a powerful journey of resilience and advocacy. From missed symptoms to becoming ACTIVATED in her care, Lori’s story is a call to action for early detection and equity in cancer care.

See More From [ACT]IVATED Cervical Cancer

Download Resource Guide Download Spanish Resource Guide

Related Programs:

Exploring Antibody Drug Conjugates in Cervical Cancer Treatment

Exploring Antibody Drug Conjugates in Cervical Cancer Treatment

 Cervical Cancer Disparities | Key Factors for Black and Latinx Patients

Cervical Cancer Disparities | Key Factors for Black and Latinx Patients

 Understanding Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in Cervical Cancer

Understanding Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in Cervical Cancer

Transcript:

Looking back, I never imagined how something as routine as a Pap smear would change everything.

I’m Lori. I’m 40 years old and biracial, and I fall into not one, but two groups that face disparities when it comes to cervical cancer outcomes. I’m sharing my story in case it helps someone else who might be putting off a screening or brushing off symptoms that don’t seem like a big deal.

My symptoms started with some abdominal bloating and bleeding between periods. At the time, they didn’t seem that unusual to me, so I just chalked it up to getting older. I hadn’t seen a doctor in a while, my previous one had retired, so I finally made an appointment with someone new and scheduled a checkup along with a Pap smear.

In the weeks leading up to my appointment, I noticed I was feeling more tired than usual, but again, I didn’t think much of it. Then my Pap smear came back abnormal, and my new doctor referred me to a gynecologic oncologist for further testing.

After a biopsy, I was diagnosed with stage IIB cervical cancer. I was stunned. But at the same time, I felt incredibly lucky that I’d made that appointment when I did. I still wonder, what stage would my cancer be at if I’d waited any longer?

My doctor and I discussed treatment options and decided on a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and brachytherapy. I joined an online support group for patients going through similar experiences, and I was so thankful for my friends from church who helped with meals, rides to treatment, and looking after my 12-year-old daughter. I got through it. My recovery went well and I’m now cancer-free. 

I’ll never stop being grateful for the support I had along the way.

Going through this experience has transformed me. I’m committed to raising awareness about the disparities in cervical cancer. Hispanic and Latina women face higher incidence rates, while Black women have a significantly higher mortality rate compared to white women. Even more troubling, women of color, including Hispanic, Black, and Asian women, are grossly underrepresented in clinical trials. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a critical issue that must change.

My [ACT]IVATION Tips for patients and families facing a cervical cancer diagnosis is:

  • First, ask your care team questions to learn about the status of your cervical cancer, treatment options, and what to expect during and after treatment.
  • Think about joining a patient support group to offer and receive emotional support.
  • And don’t forget to ask about clinical trials that may be a potential treatment option for your cervical cancer.

If my story helps even one person take that first step, making an appointment, asking a question, or advocating for themselves, then sharing it was worth it.

More Than Medicine | Breaking Barriers in Bladder Cancer Care

/in , , , , , , , , , , /by

Dr. Randy Vince shares how the loss of his grandmother to kidney cancer shaped his perspective and approach to patient care. Drawing from his lived experience, he discusses the critical importance of addressing systemic barriers and ensuring patients, especially those who delay care, feel supported, informed, and empowered. Dr. Randy Vince. 

See More from [ACT]IVATED Bladder Cancer

Download Resource Guide

Related Programs:

Exciting Developments in Bladder Cancer Treatment Advances | Muscle-Invasive and Non-Muscle-Invasive Care

 What Are Common Bladder Cancer Myths and Resolutions for Underrepresented Patients

What Are Common Bladder Cancer Myths and Resolutions for Underrepresented Patients?

 Bladder Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: Barriers to Timely Response

Bladder Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: Barriers to Timely Response

Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield:

Dr. Vince, your grandmother’s experience with kidney cancer profoundly influenced your career path. And I’m sorry about that loss. I’m sorry to hear that.

Dr. Randy Vince:

Thank you. I appreciate it.

Lisa Hatfield:

How does that personal loss inform your approach to working with bladder cancer patients who may have delayed seeking care due to similar systemic barriers?

Dr. Randy Vince:

Yeah. So I’ll start by saying the experience of losing my grandmother, and if it’s okay, I just want to give a little bit of background to why she was so important to me is, you know, at a time when I was a teenager, you know, growing up, there were a lot of influences that at any given time, if I would have made a wrong decision, I would…I would have lost my life or spent the majority of my life in prison.

And this was, you know, both of my grandmothers, but specifically the one grandmother I lost to kidney cancer. Losing her again, kind of it started to shape my perspective in terms of how I would want to deliver health care as a physician. And it was because she was so influential, so influential in my life. And oftentimes, when I didn’t always do the right thing, she would be that person that would kind of bring me back and love on me and care for me. And so, it was very tragic losing her. And so, that experience shaped me in so many different ways that extend far beyond my career. However, when it comes to my approach as a physician, as a surgeon who treats cancer patients, I started to view my role in different lenses.

And so, I almost think of it as I have to have, I have different jobs when it comes down to helping patients navigate that cancer journey, right. So, we’re starting off, and I told you, I look at it as a spectrum in terms of, you know, screening, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes, or, you know, survivorship.  And so, the first job is just really as an educator, because I want my patients. I know the receipt of a cancer diagnosis is devastating, but I want my patients to understand everything about their diagnosis when they leave my office. I want them to be able to explain things to their family members and their loved ones and feel confident and knowledgeable when they explain these things about their diagnosis to their family members and loved ones.

So, first as an educator, second, as a consoler, you know, during these appointments, which may run longer than, you know, the typical doctor’s time frame that we’re supposed to take with appointments. And that’s fine. I don’t care about the time, I care about the patients. I take time to empathize with my patients. I want them to know that they’re not in this fight alone and that I’m here with them and that I will do everything in my power to help them along this journey, and that, again, I’m in this fight with them.

And the other thing is, oftentimes when we think of cancer, the psychological impact it has is it takes us right to, oh, my gosh, how much longer do I have to live? And for the vast majority of cases, a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. So, I want them to know that I’m empathizing with them, But I also want them to know that just because you have a cancer diagnosis does not mean that you only have six months left to live, which is what we traditionally think of, because a lot of people who we knew have cancers of different types had stage IV cancer, and that was the reason why their livelihood was cut short.

And then thirdly, that I’m a healer. I walk through all of the steps of the treatment journey with my patients and just try to make sure that they understand every step of that process. I always coordinate that care with my colleagues. So everything is done with a team approach. And all of the members of the team are dedicated to their well-being. And if it’s a patient that’s primarily my patient, I always let them know, you got a team of people who are here ready to care for you, and I’m going to be the quarterback for you.

So, I’m going to be the one who makes sure that everyone runs the play correctly and that there are no obstacles that stand in your way in terms of defeating this cancer and that nothing falls through the cracks. So, I think by wearing these different hats, you start to build a strong relationship with patients, which is most important to me, and then guiding them with support, knowledge, and compassion. So, that’s how that experience of my lived experiences, especially the experience of living with my grandmother, has influenced me when it comes to caring for patients.

Lisa Hatfield:

Dr. Vince, thank you so much for sharing that story. It’s important for the entire cancer community and for patients like myself to hear that. It clearly gives you a unique perspective and connection to your patients. Hearing that story and hearing the words consoler and healer as part of your, as one of your roles or two of your roles as a physician taking care of that patient. We all need a Dr. Vince on our cancer care team. So patients, when you hear that, just know that your physician is part of your cancer care team and they want to be your quarterback. And if you sense that that’s not the case, find a Dr. Vince.

Dr. Randy Vince:

Yeah. Thank you.

What Are Common Bladder Cancer Myths and Resolutions for Underrepresented Patients?

/in , , , , , , , , , , /by

Dr. Randy Vince from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center addresses and dispels four of the most common misconceptions: that bladder cancer only affects older adults, only smokers, or only men and that a diagnosis is always fatal. He also emphasizes the importance of education and early detection, and shares insights into risk factors and hereditary concerns. Learn more about Dr. Randy Vince. 

See More from [ACT]IVATED Bladder Cancer

Download Resource Guide

Related Programs:

Exciting Developments in Bladder Cancer Treatment Advances | Muscle-Invasive and Non-Muscle-Invasive Care

 More Than Medicine_ Breaking Barriers in Bladder Cancer Care

More Than Medicine | Breaking Barriers in Bladder Cancer Care

 Bladder Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: Barriers to Timely Response

Bladder Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: Barriers to Timely Response

Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield:

Vince, what are some common myths about bladder cancer that people in underrepresented communities might believe, and how can we clear up these misunderstandings to help improve outcomes?

Dr. Randy Vince:

Yeah, so if it’s okay, I’m probably going to answer that question in reverse. And the reason why is because, again, I’m a big believer in education, education, education. So, whether it’s at a physician’s appointment or whether it’s at a local community group or, you know, attending a health talk that is local to you, really educating yourself about health conditions can lead to increased awareness, which can dispel a lot of these myths.

But in my experience, I would say there’s probably about four common myths that I’ve heard. The first one is only old people get bladder cancer, which is just simply not true. While it is more common for bladder cancer to be developed in older individuals, it can happen in the younger population as well. I personally treated people who are in their 30s and 40s for bladder cancer.

So again, it’s not a disease that only impacts elderly patients. The next thing that I’ve heard is that only smokers get bladder cancer. So, while it is a major risk factor, and I mean smoking is a major risk factor for bladder cancer, there are other environmental exposures that you can have, especially in the workplace, whether it’s chemicals or paints or plastics.

So, these can also increase the risk of developing bladder cancer. And there are other treatments for pelvic conditions. Specifically, I’m thinking of radiation that can have a delayed onset of bladder cancer in patients.

Thirdly, bladder cancer diagnosis is equal to death, and that’s just simply not the case. Like many cancers, we know that early detection is key because when we have early detection, our survival rates go up. We talked about non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer versus muscle-invasive bladder cancer. What we know is that five-year survival rates for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, which is an earlier diagnosis of earlier detection, five-year survival rates exceed 90 percent.

So again, cancer, bladder cancer diagnosis does not equal a death sentence. And then lastly, that only men get bladder cancer. Again, it’s more common in men, but women get bladder cancer as well. But the difference that we’ve seen is that women in minority communities are actually more likely to succumb to that bladder cancer diagnosis. Which again, just points to why that increased awareness is so important in early detection efforts remain critical.

Lisa Hatfield:

Okay, thank you. And I have one follow-up question to that. You talked about some risk factors for bladder cancer. Is there any type of genetic or hereditary component to bladder cancer?

Dr. Randy Vince:

Yeah. So, the vast majority of bladder cancers do not have an inherent genetic risk. There are some very rare bladder cancers that are associated with a genetic link. But for the vast majority of patients who develop bladder cancer, there is not a hereditary link to that.

Bladder Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: Barriers to Timely Response

/in , , , , , , , , , , /by

What are the main barriers bladder cancer patients face in accessing timely diagnosis and treatment? Dr. Randy Vince from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center sheds light on how socioeconomic factors such as insurance access, lack of primary care, and limited health literacy contribute to delays in diagnosis and care. Learn more about Dr. Randy Vince. 

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“So, for patients who have financial difficulties when it comes to obtaining health insurance, you know, one of the things that we’ve seen here locally that a lot of patients were not aware of is you can actually contact your local board of health, whether it’s at the county level or a local municipality level, and they have resources available for you based off of your, you know, where you are in terms of your economic circumstance. The next thing I would say is for all patients, you know, and this is across the board, I always tell patients to trust your body, because no one knows your body better than you do. And so if you notice different changes in your body, when it comes down to things like increased urination or the frequency of urination, blood in your urine, these are things that you should seek medical advice or medical attention for immediately.”

See More from [ACT]IVATED Bladder Cancer

Download Resource Guide

Related Programs:

Exciting Developments in Bladder Cancer Treatment Advances | Muscle-Invasive and Non-Muscle-Invasive Care

 More Than Medicine_ Breaking Barriers in Bladder Cancer Care

More Than Medicine | Breaking Barriers in Bladder Cancer Care

 What Are Common Bladder Cancer Myths and Resolutions for Underrepresented Patients

What Are Common Bladder Cancer Myths and Resolutions for Underrepresented Patients?

Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield:

Dr. Vince, what are the main barriers bladder cancer patients face in accessing timely diagnosis and treatment?

Dr. Randy Vince:

Yeah, so that’s a great question. So, there are major barriers that are largely related to socioeconomic factors. We see this in healthcare broadly, but specifically within bladder cancer patients. So some examples of those things would be insurance access, access to primary care physicians. Because we know that there are substantial amount, substantial number of the population who don’t have a primary care physician, as well as health literacy or differences in health literacy. And then many of these factors are actually interconnected.

So, I say that to say that, you know, for example, patients who are facing financial insecurity, which we know are disproportionately Black and Brown patients are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, and they’re less likely to receive preventative medicine, medical care from a primary care provider. And so, as a result, when you have these health issues arise, there could be limited access to the necessary care, as well as a lack of awareness about the available treatment options. So, all of these things kind of combine or stack on top of each other, if you will, when it comes to the barriers for bladder cancer patients, when it comes to accessing timely diagnosis and treatment.

Lisa Hatfield:

Okay, thank you. And do you happen to have an [ACT]IVATION tip for that question?

Dr. Randy Vince:

Yes. So, for patients who first, when we talked about financial insecurity.  So, for patients who have financial difficulties when it comes to obtaining health insurance, you know, one of the things that we’ve seen here locally that a lot of patients were not aware of is you can actually contact your local board of health, whether it’s at the county level or a local municipality level, and they have resources available for you based off of where you are in terms of your economic circumstance.

The next thing I would say is for all patients, and this is across the board, I always tell patients to trust your body, because no one knows your body better than you do. And so if you notice different changes in your body, when it comes down to things like increased urination or the frequency of urination, blood in your urine, these are things that you should seek medical advice or medical attention for immediately. So again, don’t disregard any signs or symptoms. Really lean into being in tune with your body. So, if you start to notice these symptoms, please seek medical treatment.