Rays of Hope 2013: Media and the Cancer Experience

September 26, 2013

The Newseum in Washington, DC

6 p.m. Reception, 7 p.m. Program

Join NCCS this fall as we host a conversation about the influence of the media on the cancer experience. Panelists will discuss the role of the media in shaping perceptions of cancer treatment, access and quality. The media have a profound impact on public and patient attitudes toward a cancer diagnosis and treatment, and media coverage of cancer can also affect public policy debates about cancer care. Media from all disciplines are transforming how cancer patients and their families receive information about their disease, navigate difficult choices about treatment, and make decisions about their lives after cancer.

Words Matter. More than a quarter century ago, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship embarked on a mission to change the vocabulary of cancer.

NCCS sought to replace “cancer victim” with “cancer survivor,” a change in terminology that helped bring about a dramatically different notion of the cancer experience. NCCS has built upon this history and is now working to ensure that from the moment of diagnosis through treatment and beyond, improving the quality of cancer care for survivors is a national policy priority. For more information, please contact us at info@canceradvocacy.org or 301.650.9127.

Purchase Tickets

Patient Advocate Foundation Launches Financial Assistance Program for Patients Battling Prostate Cancer

-- LIVESTRONG Foundation and Movember Grant Funding to Help Cover Expenses

Associated with Radiation Therapy --

Hampton, VA.  As of August 15th, prostate cancer patients now have access to financial support in the form of $1,000 grants that contribute towards the co-pay expenses associated with prescribed radiation therapy during treatment. Nationally recognized case management organization Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) has partnered with Movember and the LIVESTRONGFoundation to launch the Radiation Co-Payment Small Grant Financial Aid Fund, ensuring prostate cancer patients across the nation have access to monetary support that can bring needed relief to their budget.

Eligible men include those who have been diagnosed and are in active radiation treatment for prostate cancer with an annual income of $60,000 or less. Qualified patients may use the one-time grant of $1,000 to cover their out-of-pocket expenses associated with radiation therapy, helping to reduce the financial burden associated with treatment. On average, Medicare patients receiving up to nine weeks of radiation treatments have an out-of-pocket responsibility ranging from $1,054 to over $3,300, depending on the specific radiation treatment prescribed.   Patients who receive proton beam therapy radiation treatments can see almost double that amount in out-of-pocket costs allowed within their 20% copayment.

Patient Advocate Foundation’s professional staff is available to assist applicants and distribute funds through the toll-free financial assistance line at (855) 824-7941.  Live financial counselors are available Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Eastern time to assist patients through the grant application process.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in the U.S., affecting one in six men. One new case occurs every 2.2 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 17.5 minutes.

Movember and the LIVESTRONG Foundation have provided generous support to Patient Advocate Foundation to launch this financial aid program, allowing men and their families greater monetary support while involved in treatment and recovery.

Movember is the global men’s health charity that encourages men across the world to sprout a mustache during the month of November to raise vital awareness and funds for men's health issues to combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges.

"Movember is honored to partner with PAF and the LIVESTRONG Foundation to assist men undergoing prostate cancer treatment, “said Mark Hedstrom, Director of Movember U.S. “This financial aid will provide men and their families monetary support while undergoing treatment and throughout the recovery process.”

“The LIVESTRONG Foundation is grateful to partner with the Patient Advocate Foundation and Movember on this program to reduce the financial burden on men facing prostate cancer,” said Doug Ulman, Foundation President and CEO.  “We believe access to affordable, timely and quality health care is a human right and want to do our part to make this possible for anyone affected by cancer.”

PAF, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit patient assistance programs, will direct the contribution toward helping males in treatment for prostate cancer, regardless of insurance status.

“For years PAF has identified the barrier to treatment that is created by the direct expense associated with potentially life- saving radiation therapies. As a result of this gift from Movember and the LIVESTRONG Foundation, we can now provide relief for those who need it most,” said Beth Patterson, President, Mission Delivery for PAF.  

August - September Issue of Cancer Stakeholder Available

Please view the latest edition of our statewide newsletter, the Cancer Stakeholder. In it you will find information on topics including but not limited to:

Program Spotlight: August as Florida Immunization Awareness Month, September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

State Update: The Florida Community Health Worker Coalition’s 3^rd Annual Summit

Tools and Resources: Upcoming webinars, workshops and opportunities for continuing education credits

Cancer in the News: The latest articles from great resources such as Science Daily, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Funding Opportunities: Ranging from gardening initiatives to obesity to cancer research grants

Events: Including local and national conferences of interest to our stakeholders

Smoking Cessation Resources: highlighting Tobacco Free Florida’s 3 easy and free ways to quit

Download here

ACS 2013 Quality of Life Forum

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is holding a public forum regarding quality of life and palliative care issues for people facing serious and chronic illnesses.

Location:
Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton Regional Hospital
701 NW 13th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33486

Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013
11:00am - 12:00pm

Discussion Topics:
The forum will focus on what palliative care means and what can be done on both the legislative 
and medical fronts to improve the quality of life for patients by highlighting how palliative care:

• Achieves better patient experience, better quality of care and lowered health care costs
• Honors patient choice about treatment goals and helps bring family into the care process
• Legislation could eliminate access barriers for patients

Featured Speakers:
Dr. Gail A. Cooney • Congresswoman Lois Frankel • Congressman Ted Deutch
Congressman Alcee Hastings • State Representative Bill Hager – Emcee / Host

Sponsored by:
Boca Radiation Oncology Associates
Palliative Medical Associates 
Hospice of Palm Beach County
AARP
Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Center for Hematology-Oncology

RSVP before Friday, August 23. Call 813.349.4432, email jennifer.sharp@cancer.org or
reserve online at www.acscan.org/flqolforum. There is no charge to attend, but space is limited.

Download Flyer

Cyber-Seminar - Implementation and Implications: The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Cancer Control

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET

It has been three years since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law. Most of the provisions will have been implemented by the start of 2014. The September National Cancer Institute (NCI) Research to Reality cyber-seminar will explore the major provisions of the ACA and Medicaid changes and their implications for cancer control. We will also examine how cancer control coalitions and organizations are addressing these changes.

Carter Steger from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network will join us to share an overview of the ACA implementation and the changes to Medicaid and the specific impacts on cancer control.

Dr. Jennifer Redmond from the University of Kentucky will then share an example of how her state coalition has been working with multiple government offices and organizations to implement ACA and its impact on screening and prevention. She will share her perspective on the progress made and the lessons learned in Kentucky as well as those of her colleagues in other states.

Ms. Steger and Dr. Redmond will share their perspectives on the impact of the ACA and how state and local coalitions can align the priorities and efforts to seize the opportunities and address the issues that stem from the ACA.

The final part of the webinar will be dedicated to Q&A and discussion and will offer an opportunity to engage with the presenters, and also to share your own experiences and thoughts.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the cyber-seminar, participants will be able to:

• Identify how the implementation of major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) impact cancer control
• Identify areas of the ACA that relate to CCC coalition plans
• Consider the implications of the ACA and in which ways your coalition’s priorities and advocacy efforts could be aligned to seize opportunities stemming from ACA.

Register Now!

New support for Breast Cancer Patients Available through Financial Grant Program

Full News Release:
Patient Advocate Foundation and Susan G. Komen Announce the Launch of a Financial Grant Program for Breast Cancer Patients  

-- Financial assistance helps patients by providing funds for select support needs--

Beginning today, breast cancer patients now have access to financial support in the form of grants that contribute towards the expenses resulting from treatment including lymphedema care and supplies, childcare and/or eldercare or transportation costs necessitated by treatment.   Nationally recognized case management organization Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) has partnered with Susan G. Komen® to launch the Komen Treatment Assistance Program Financial Aid Fund; ensuring breast cancer patients across the nation have access to monetary support that can bring needed relief during treatment.

Eligible patients include those who have been diagnosed and are in active treatment for breast cancer that fall within 250% or less of the federal poverty limits.  Qualified patients may use the one-time grant of $300 to cover expenses for lymphedema care and supplies, durable medical equipment, transportation costs associated with getting to and from treatment, prosthesis and wigs, or childcare and/or eldercare necessitated by treatment. 

Patient Advocate Foundation’s professional staff is available to assist applicants and distribute funds through the toll-free financial assistance line at (855) 824-7941.  Live financial counselors are available Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5:00pm and Friday 8:30am – 4pm Eastern time to assist patients through the grant process.

Komen has provided generous support to Patient Advocate Foundation to launch this financial aid program allowing breast cancer patients greater monetary support services while involved in treatment and recovery.   “PAF is known nationally for their important work helping patients deal with everyday challenges while accessing needed healthcare.   We are pleased to provide the means to supplement PAF’s case management support by providing an avenue for financial assistance for breast cancer patients,” stated Komen’s Chief Mission Officer Chandini Portteus.

“More than 60% of the issues our case managers addressed last year surrounded medical debt and financial concerns as a result of illness.  For the patient who is attempting to manage the additional costs inherent in cancer treatment, this grant will provide needed respite to an already stressed budget, “ stated Beth Patterson, President of Mission Delivery at PAF.

Patients needing assistance can call (855) 824-7941 or learn more about the eligibility guidelines at www.patientadvocate.org/gethelp

Pink Pumpkin Pedal-Off October 12th

Be sure to sign up to ride in this year's Pedal-Off on October 12th: http://beta.active.com/gainesville-fl/cycling/pink-pumpkin-pedal-off-2013.

Volunteers both before and during the event are needed, as well as sponsors. It is possible to volunteer and still ride in the Pedal-Off!

For more information about volunteering for or sponsoring the Pedal-off, or donating to the research fund, please contact me at bnbbarb@aol.com.

Webinar: Living Beyond Breast Cancer - Breast Imaging and Screening Updates

On Thursday August 15th, from noon to 1 p.m., Living Beyond Breast Cancer will host a free webinar, "Breast Imaging and Screening Updates." 

 It will be led by Dr. Debra Copit, the director of breast imaging at the Albert Einstein Medical Center. She will explain the types of breast imaging tests available, the latest screening recommendations based on individual risk levels, and how to communicate your concerns about test results and fear of recurrence with your healthcare team.

Register online at lbbc.org/Events or by calling (610) 645-4567. CEU credits are available for licensed social workers.

The webinar is accessible via phone or computer.

The Cancer Free Florida Webinar Series: Identifying and Addressing Disparities in Cancer Using an Enhanced Florida Cancer Data System Database

Overview
Disparities in cancer diagnoses, treatment and outcomes remain a significant health care problem in the United States. This webinar will discuss results from our research which explores disparities by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and characteristics of treating facility using a linked Florida Cancer Data System and Agency for Health Care Administration database with data from 1981-2009.

Intended Audience: Health Care Professionals, Interested Stakeholders

This webinar and teleconference is hosted by The Florida Department of Health Cancer Program

Wednesday, August 21, 2013, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time

Featured speaker: Margaret M. Byrne, Ph. D.

Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami

To join the online meeting (Now available from mobile devices), go to:

https://suncom.webex.com/suncom/j.php?ED=228847202&UID=492507147&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Teleconference information:

Provide your phone number when you join the meeting to receive a call back. Alternatively, you can call:

Call-in toll-free number: 1-888-670-3525

Attendee access code: 297 003 0833

For assistance, go to: https://suncom.webex.com/suncom/mc

On the left navigation bar, click “Support”.

To add this meeting to your calendar program, click https://suncom.webex.com/suncom/j.php?ED=228847202&UID=492507147&ICS=MS&LD=1&RD=2&SHA2=hn/0ivdlMZ22sL7vGMWRuH6Jwmn9uqPZIimx/bnESTA=&ST=1

To check whether you have the appropriate players installed for UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files, go to:

https://suncom.webex.com/suncom/systemdiagnosis.php .

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