For this episode of “The Vitals,” we spoke with Chastity Washington, MPH, CHES, Center for Cancer Health Equity, Ohio State University, about how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated preexisting disparities in cancer care. Chastity spoke to our team about the direct and indirect impacts of COVID 19 on disadvantaged communities, vaccine hesitancy amongst those communities, and more.

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“We’ve had periods of time where things were shut down. We do have telemedicine, that was expanded, but telemedicine doesn’t work for everyone. If you don’t have internet access, if you don’t have the ability to understand the technology….”


COVID-19 Pandemic Emphasizes Disparities in Cancer Care

For this episode, we spoke with Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, current president of the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA). She spoke to us about some the benefits and applications of medical cannabis for patients with cancer, some of the challenges and interesting updates in medical cannabis research, and how nurses can talk to their patients about cannabis, as well as monitor their patients for potential cannabis-related adverse events.

Over half of the states in the United States have legalized medical cannabis. What does that mean for nurses who care for patients with cancer?

Navigating Medical Cannabis in Cancer Care

For this episode of “The Vitals,” we spoke with Cynthia Ingram, BS, RN, HN-BC, COHN-S, animal therapy coordinator, CTCA Chicago. She talked about how she pursued her dream to bring animal therapy to patients in her care center and how, together, her and her furry companion, Tori, touched the lives of many patients and caregivers and brought a little bit of joy to their day.

“Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to reduce stress, improve energy levels, and decrease perceived pain and anxiety.”

Pet Therapy Positively Impacts Patients and Caregivers of Cancer

In this episode of “The Vitals,” we spoke with Kate Esselen, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, about patients with gynecologic cancer who don’t comply with prescribed treatment in response to financial distress or toxicity.

Dr. Esselen is the corresponding author on the study, titled “Evaluating Meaningful Levels of Financial Toxicity in Gynecologic Cancers,” which was published in the International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer. The data found that nearly half of patients with gynecologic cancer experienced some degree of financial distress and that patients with severe financial toxicity were significantly more likely to engage in behavioral cost-coping by medication non-compliance (adjusted risk ratio, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.2-18.1).


“[Drug adherence] seems like a problem we could potentially solve or, at least, make much better, and we are not really doing enough right now to do that.”


Addressing Medication Non-Compliance and Financial Toxicity in Patients with Gynecologic Cancer

In this episode, we spoke to Chevon Rariy, MD, medical director of Endocrinology at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) Chicago, and the Telehealth Program director for the CTCA, about the impact of COVID-19 on telehealth programs, the creation of the in-home infusion program, and what these changes will look like for the nurses caring for these patients.

There’s No Place Like Home: The Launch of In-Home Infusion Programs

Music can help alleviate stress and bring something familiar into an unfamiliar medical procedure.

In this episode, we spoke with Laura Schandert, AGPCNP-BC, nurse practitioner at Duke University School of Nursing, about her recent experiment in using music to calm the nerves of patients with blood cancers undergoing bone marrow procedures.

 Get In-Tune With Patients: Music Can Help Alleviate Stress

While some people face barriers to colorectal cancer screening, at-home fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) can help. For this episode, we heard from Diann Boyd, BSN, RN, OCN, a nurse navigator at the Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center. Boyd specializes in GI oncology and has a passion for ensuring that everyone completes the screening.

Boyd recently presented at the ONS Annual Congress about how to increase screening rates in Black and underserved communities. In doing so, the medical community has the opportunity to potentially catch cancers in earlier stages and improve patient outcomes.

While some people face barriers to colorectal cancer screening, at-home fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) can help. 

Overcome Screening Barriers in CRC

It is well known that fear of recurrence is a major issue in the cancer community, but can genetic test results outlining risk impact those feelings?

For this episode of “The Vitals,” we spoke with Maurade Gormley, CPNP, RN, assistant professor and post-doctoral fellow at the NYU Rory Myers College of Nursing. Her recent research analyzed how Oncotype DX genomic test results may increase fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors.

Genetic Testing May Increase Fear of Recurrence

Provider communication is extremely important, especially when dealing with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. In this episode of “The Vitals,” Bryan A. Sisk, MD, MSCI, assistant professor of pediatric hematology and oncology at the Washington University School of Medicine discusses his recent research on communication barriers between healthcare providers and children with cancer and their families.

While some of these issues can be found in the broader cancer space, others – like how much information to give a 6-year-old versus a 16-year-old – align more with the intricacies of pediatrics. Sisk talks about this, and the improvements he hopes to see in this space in years to come.

A Chat on Communication Barriers in Childhood Cancer

Clinicians, patients, and caregivers alike all reported that they want cancer to be a communal experience – meaning that they feel that they are supported in the journey. However, certain factors can lead to feelings of isolation. 

In this episode of “The Vitals,” we spoke with Jody Koenig Kellas, PhD, department chair and professor, interpersonal, family, and health communication at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Her research looked at the communal cancer experience, and gives clinicians direct tips on how they can reframe hope for patients and caregivers.