No Summer COVID Break for Cancer Care Teams: New CANCER BUZZ Podcast Episode Out Today

Rockville, MD - The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) today released a new CANCER BUZZ podcast episode focused on the continued mental and emotional toll of the ongoing pandemic still impacting cancer care professionals around the country.

This week’s CANCER BUZZ guest is Krista Nelson, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, oncology social worker and ACCC President. She explains the concerns of cancer care professionals who continue to deal with the challenges of caring for patients with cancer, as a global pandemic wears on their own well-being.

“In the medical setting, we're feeling relieved and so grateful to science that we have this vaccine. But we also have exhaustion and loss. And we still have hospitals full of people with COVID-19 and vaccine-hesitant people who are making choices that are different from what we would make,” said Nelson.  “It’s so important right now to provide the space for oncology professionals to talk about this with other caregivers. There is a fear for our own personal safety, and the fact that someone else’s decision can impact us and our families. We need to be able to share the emotional impact with others who are experiencing the same feelings.”

To help address the stress and anxiety ACCC members may be facing, ACCC launched a monthly Mindfulness Meditation video series, as well as online coffee chats where small groups of members can share stories and offer support.

When Nelson took the helm as ACCC President this spring, she laid out the President’s Theme for her tenure, titled, “Real-World Lessons from COVID-19: Driving Oncology Care Forward.” Her theme focuses on three key priorities: the role of health equity and the development of practice-based solutions to reduce barriers and improve outcomes; demonstrating to internal stakeholders the increased need for high-impact psychosocial and supportive care services; and strengthening a culture that supports professional well-being and resilience for members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team.

CANCER BUZZ is an award-winning audio podcast series that takes deep dives into emergent issues in oncology, including health equity, COVID-19 care modifications, precision medicine and novel treatments, telehealth, financial navigation, payment models, supportive services, geriatric care, and more. Each episode is designed to deliver timely information to busy cancer care providers quickly and in a mobile format. CANCER BUZZ is available on all major streaming audio platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify and smart speakers simply by asking Alexa to “play the latest CANCER BUZZ podcast”.