Patient-Centered Small Cell Lung Cancer Care

Over the last two decades, new and evolving advances in lung cancer screening and treatment modalities have provided innovative options for patients with small cell lung cancer, improving their overall response rates and extending treatment response durations. However, given the complexity of care required for patients with small cell lung cancer, significant needs remain unmet.

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) conducted patient and provider surveys to define the barriers for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The purpose of the surveys was to garner real-world insights into the factors that lead to delayed diagnoses and treatment, and poor symptom management of patients with SCLC.

Survey results identified several critical gaps in the management of SCLC, including barriers to access clinical trials, delayed referral to palliative and supportive ancillary care services. Additional areas of concern include a need for earlier detection of SCLC when it is potentially curable, as well as the identification of new, more effective personalized therapies.

Recommendations developed from survey results include a need to increase referral rates and use of palliative care and ancillary support services, reduce barriers to clinical trial access, educate providers on the tools and resources available to assess quality of life and patient appropriateness for second- and subsequent-line therapies, and utilize shared decision-making for care planning and treatment goals.

For more information on the surveys and results, read the full article.

From the ACCCBuzz Blog

For more information on this project, please contact the ACCC Provider Education department.