Association of Community Cancer Centers Announces New Provider Resources For Improving Myelofibrosis Patient Care

ROCKVILLE, Md. – The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is pleased to announce invaluable new provider resources for delivering high-quality care to patients with myelofibrosis. Classified as a myeloproliferative neoplasm, myelofibrosis can arise on its own (primary myelofibrosis), or as a progression of polcythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia. For a small number of patients, myelofibrosis can transform to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). When AML does arise from myelofibrosis, it is often difficult to treat and can be rapidly fatal.

Representing nearly 20,000 cancer care professionals nationwide, ACCC understands that treating patients with a less common cancer, such as myelofibrosis, can present unique challenges for providers who may have limited time and resources to incorporate emerging clinical data into practice.

In 2010, ACCC launched its Community Resource Centers project to provide a wide-ranging spectrum of provider resources focused on less common cancers, ensuring that providers have immediate access to the best possible resources to treat these types of cancers aggressively and effectively. Also referred to as “forgotten” cancers, these diseases are defined as those having fewer than 40,000 patient cases annually in the U.S.

ACCC’s new Community Resource Centers for myelofibrosis were selected based on their expertise and experience in treating this disease and their commitment to providing innovative, patient-centered care. They are:

• Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• The Desert Regional Medical Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Palm Springs, California
• Norton Cancer Institute, Louisville, Kentucky

"ACCC's Community Resource Centers for myelofibrosis are an invaluable peer-to-peer resource available to the entire cancer care team," said Becky DeKay, MBA, ACCC President. "Community-based cancer programs from around the country can directly access a rich source of highly skilled guidance and support when treating patients with myelofibrosis. Another tremendous advantage of this provider resource tool is that it enables patients to continue to receive high-quality care closer to home."