OncoveryCare

PSA: Join the OncoveryCare Waitlist! Are you a cancer survivor or know someone who is? At OncoveryCare, we are working tirelessly to make our services available to as many survivors as possible! By joining our waitlist, you'll be the first to: - Hear about our latest availability and expansion updates - Get the latest cancer-related news and trends - Meet our dedicated team who is passionate about survivorship - Access exclusive tips, resources, and more! Be a part of a community that understands your journey. Together, we can empower each other through every step of survivorship. Let’s redefine cancer survivorship together. Sign up today and stay connected! 👉 https://lnkd.in/e4jE3cNB

📢 #ASCOQLTY24 is quickly approaching! OncoveryCare is excited to be on-site in San Francisco on September 27 & 28. Come meet Oncovery team member Natasha Steele, MD, MPH, Peer & Navigation Program Lead. Will you be there too? Let's meet up and chat all things survivorship! #ASCO #patientnavigation #CancerX #digitalcancercare #survivorship #cancersurvivors #cancersurvivor #survivors #cancer #digitallyenabledcancercare #patienteducation #oncologycare #oncology

In the cancer community, we mark something called a "cancerversary"—a date that is meaningful to the survivor's journey. Because of the differences in folks' cancer experiences, the milestone marked can vary, whether one's end-of-treatment date, surgery anniversary, etc. I mark the anniversary of my date of diagnosis—September 25, 2018—and, so, today is mine. My six-year cancerversary. The photo below was taken shortly after I finished active treatment, at an event celebrating breast cancer survivors. I always feel like this particular shot sums up well the mix of emotions I feel on my cancerversary. On the one hand: joy, relief, immense gratitude for the slew of experiences that come with six years—SIX WHOLE YEARS!—of life. Graduate school, moving back to Boston, starting a company, meeting my partner, countless moments with family and friends ... all the gifts of a second chapter of life after an aggressive cancer diagnosis. On the other hand, there is always a quieter side to this day, too: reflection, and an acknowledgment of the way life changes after a critical illness. The other day, I was explaining how, at this stage, survivorship can feel like carrying a backpack. Some days, the load feels light, light enough to just be a hum in the background. Other days, even six years out, it feels heavier. The more time goes on, the more light days there are. But it's always there. Today, I'll be celebrating the milestone with gratitude, but also thinking of every single person—whether survivors or "co-survivors"—carrying a cancer experience with them, too. 💛

We are so lucky to have Chandler Groves as part of Team OncoveryCare. His personal experience as a survivor brought him to Oncovery with a want to build a survivorship care model that truly transforms the lives of cancer survivors, and that is exactly what we're doing. We're so happy you are here, Chandler. It is a true pleasure to work alongside you each day. Congratulations on the milestone!

The journey of survivorship can bring anxiety, a natural response to the fear of recurrence or concerns about the future. While anxiety is common, it’s important to recognize its signs—like excessive worry, restlessness, or physical symptoms—and take proactive steps to manage it. Tips for Coping: Educate Yourself: Understanding anxiety helps in managing it. Talk About It: Discussing your feelings with a trusted person or therapist can be therapeutic. Practice Relaxation: Techniques like deep breathing and stretching can ease tension. Stay Active: Physical activity can boost your mood. Seek Support: Professional help, such as that offered by OncoveryCare, can make a significant difference. Anxiety is a normal part of the survivorship experience, but you don't have to face it alone. Taking small steps can lead to a healthier, happier life post-cancer. Read more about our thoughts on anxiety and survivorship: https://lnkd.in/eeXR2xVc #Survivorship #MentalHealth #Resilience #Anxiety #CancerSurvivorship #Cancer #Survivors

Good morning! You know it's going to be an interesting day at Team OncoveryCare when the headline on the NPR home page is: "Report: Cancer diagnoses are more common but so is surviving." I definitely had some good reading material while I drank my coffee this morning ... ☕ Today's news is drawing on the release of the new American Association of Cancer Research Cancer Progress report, which was released last night. Here are a few insights (among many) that stood out to me: 1) In the US, the age-adjusted cancer death rate decreased by 33% (!) between 1991 and 2021 - an incredible feat 2) Cancer survivors experience higher "functional limitations" than non-survivors, and the proportion of survivors experiencing those limitations has doubled over the course of two decades 3) Cancer survivors have increased incidence of age-related diseases compared to individuals who do not have a history of cancer -- and that's due to both impacts of therapies, but also changes at the molecular level 4) We are seeing interesting trends related to age & cancer: on the one hand, this report outlines the precipitous increase in early-onset cancer diagnoses; on the other, it delves into the unique challenges faced by older survivors, such as polypharmacy and rates of loneliness Really interested to hear folks' takeaways. #cancersurvivorship https://lnkd.in/eVkbnSx2

A couple days late, but congratulations to the leadership of #TennOncologyPracticeSociety for hosting an enormously successful annual conference on Sept 14. A great forum to share progress on care delivery innovations and legislative issues critical to supportive oncology care. Keynote by OncoveryCare Hil Moss hugely interesting in thinking about how much unmet need there is in survivorship. Association of Cancer Care Centers Richard Martin, Kate Baker, Amy Lydic, CAE, Debbie Skojac, Carolyn Kelsey, Courtney Atnip and others!

For many cancer survivors, the goal of a survivorship care plan is to support the survivor during the transition from active cancer treatment to the next phase of medical care. While each survivorship care plan (SCP) is slightly different, the ideal SCP can help you understand the plan for your care after treatment, has strategies to manage short and long-term effects of treatments, facilitates accurate and efficient communication between members of your future medical team, and empowers you to have more control over your health. Learn more about survivorship care plans, what to do if you never received a survivorship care plan, or how to use your survivorship care plan: https://lnkd.in/eDtk8MRf

We want to introduce you to our rockstar team member, Natasha Steele, MD/MPH! Natasha is a cancer survivor and physician with a background in public health and industry/academic scientific partnerships. She is passionate about using her dual perspective as a patient and healthcare provider to build novel strategies that address the complex needs of cancer survivors. At OncoveryCare, Natasha leads our peer support and care navigation teams. She is also currently on the faculty of Stanford University School of Medicine, where she practices perioperative medicine with a clinical focus on head and neck cancer. We are so grateful to have you on team Oncovery, Natasha!

Understanding Financial Toxicity in Cancer Care: An Overlooked Crisis Financial toxicity—a term describing the economic burden associated with cancer treatment—has become an alarming issue for both patients and survivors. Beyond the physical and emotional challenges of a cancer diagnosis, the financial strain can be just as debilitating. What is Financial Toxicity? Financial toxicity refers to the distress and hardship caused by the high costs of cancer care. It’s not just about medical bills; it’s the cumulative financial impact, including lost income, travel expenses for treatment, and ongoing care costs. This can lead to difficult choices, such as delaying or forgoing necessary treatments, taking on significant debt, or even declaring bankruptcy. The Facts: Nearly 1 in 3 cancer patients in the U.S. experience financial hardship due to their diagnosis (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022). Studies show that patients with high out-of-pocket costs are more likely to delay or skip medications, which can severely impact their health outcomes (American Cancer Society, 2021). What Can Be Done? Advocacy: We must push for more affordable and accessible healthcare options, ensuring that financial barriers do not dictate the quality of care a patient receives. Support: Encourage and support organizations that provide financial assistance to cancer patients. This can make a significant difference in their treatment journey. Education: It’s crucial to educate patients and their families on the importance of financial planning and health insurance options early in the diagnosis process. Addressing financial toxicity is critical to improving overall cancer care and survivorship. Let’s work together to ensure that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of life-saving treatments. #CancerCare #FinancialToxicity #HealthcareReform #CancerSurvivorship #PatientAdvocacy #Oncology