Desire to address costs at time of treatment decisions among patients with metastatic breast cancer.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6640-6640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Y. Lei ◽  
Katharine M. Quain ◽  
Don S. Dizon ◽  
Rachel Jimenez ◽  
Jennifer Adrienne Shin ◽  
...  

6640 Background: Costs of cancer care may impact access to therapy, adherence, and distress among patients. However, the degree to which patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) wish to discuss financial issues when making treatment decisions is unknown. Methods: In a single arm feasibility trial, 40 women with newly diagnosed or progressive MBC completed a 1-page survey regarding goals and priorities for discussion with the oncology team. The survey included 17 potential priorities for discussion in the domains: treatment options, symptom management, emotional concerns, planning for the future, and lifestyle. We evaluated participants’ interest in prioritizing discussion of financial issues and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of this preference. We examined the relationship between desire to discuss financial issues and both distress on the Distress Thermometer (DT) and satisfaction with cancer care using Fisher’s exact test. Results: Among 40 participants, 11 (28%) reported interest in discussing financial issues when making treatment decisions, 29 (72%) were not interested. Average age was 57 (range 31-73), and the majority were white (85%) and college graduates (66%). Only 18% of white patients were interested in addressing cost, while 83% of non-white patients were interested (p < 0.01). Those with a college education were less likely to prioritize financial discussion compared to no college (16% vs. 47%, p = 0.04). Patients interested in discussing cost were more likely to have a household income < $50,000 (50% vs. 22% > $50,000, n.s.) and to have Medicaid (50% vs. 25% other insurance, n.s.). Additionally, patients with higher levels of distress (35% vs. 21% DT < 4, n.s.) and those on novel targeted or biologic therapy (42% vs. 21% other therapy, n.s.) were more likely to prioritize discussion of costs. Desire to discuss cost was not related to satisfaction with care. Conclusions: A substantial minority of patients with MBC, particularly those from less advantaged backgrounds, wish to discuss financial issues at time of treatment decisions. Financial toxicity research should recognize that not all patients desire this discussion and evaluate methods to screen for financial concerns and barriers to care.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 11622-11622
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Peppercorn ◽  
Yvonne Y. Lei ◽  
Nora Horick ◽  
Katharine M. Quain ◽  
Don S. Dizon ◽  
...  

11622 Background: Individualized treatment planning is a critical part of quality cancer care, but how best to achieve this for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is unclear. We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability and impact of using a simple and scalable “Individualized Goals of Care Discussion Guide” (IGCDG) to facilitate patient-provider communication at the time of treatment decisions. Methods: We developed the IGCDG based on structured interviews with MBC patients and input from experts in cancer care, decision sciences, psychology and palliative care. We then conducted a single arm feasibility trial among patients with newly diagnosed or progressive MBC. Prior to clinic, patients received the IGCDG, an 8-page MBC informational brochure and 1-page questionnaire regarding treatment preferences, personal goals and priorities for care planning. The completed questionnaire was provided to the oncology team at the patient’s visit. Pre and post assessment included the Distress Thermometer (DT), Patient Satisfaction with Cancer Care Scale and the Control Preferences Scale. Feasibility was defined as: 1) accrual of > 50%, 2) attrition rate < 32%, and 3) < 50% of patients experiencing increased distress following the intervention. Results: Among 60 eligible patients, 42 participated (70% accrual), 40 completed all surveys (2% attrition), and only 7 (18%) reported increased distress. Mean age was 57 (range 31 – 79), 85% were white, 7% black, 5% Hispanic, 66% were college graduates, and 40% reported high baseline distress (DT > 4). Patient priorities for discussion included cancer directed therapy (70%), symptom management (70%), and prognosis/planning ahead (60%). At 2-month follow-up, 53% reported decreased distress compared to baseline. Satisfaction with cancer care was high at baseline and follow-up. Most patients preferred shared decision making (77%), and 79% reported decision roles concordant with preferences. Overall, 72% of participants found the IGCDG helpful, 93% found the questionnaire easy to complete, and 44% felt it improved communication with their doctor (49% unsure). Conclusions: Administration of the Individualized Goals of Care Discussion Guide is feasible and provides patients with MBC an opportunity to define their goals of care and priorities for discussion in clinic. Clinical trial information: NCT03375827.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 693
Author(s):  
Aravinthan Kadravello ◽  
Seng-Beng Tan ◽  
Gwo-Fuang Ho ◽  
Ranjit Kaur ◽  
Cheng-Har Yip

Background and Objective: Despite the increasing treatment options for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), unmet needs remain common, especially in low and middle-income countries where resources are limited and MBC patients face many challenges. They often join support groups to cope with their unmet needs. Currently, many MBC patients connect with each other via online support group in view of the constant availability of support and rapid information exchange. The objective of this study is to determine the unmet needs of women with MBC from an online support group. Material and Methods: Messages in an online support group of twenty-two MBC patients over a period of three years from August 2016 till August 2019 were thematically analyzed. Results: Three themes were generated, (1) unmet information needs (2) unmet financial needs (3) unmet support needs. Women needed information on side effects of treatment, new treatment options and availability of clinical trials. Although Malaysia has universal health care coverage, access to treatment remains a major challenge. When treatment was not available in the public hospitals, or waiting lists were too long, women were forced to seek treatment in private hospitals, incurring financial catastrophe. Insufficient private insurance and inadequate social security payments force many women to consider stopping treatment. Women felt that they were not getting support from their clinicians in the public sector, who were quick to stop active treatment and advise palliation. On the other hand, clinicians in the private sector advise expensive treatment beyond the financial capability of the patients. Women with families also face the challenge of managing their family and household in addition to coping with their illness. Conclusions: There is a need for healthcare professionals, policy makers, and civil society to better address the needs of MBC patients through patient-centered, multidisciplinary and multi-organizational collaboration.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yihang Qi ◽  
Xiangyi Kong ◽  
Xiangyu Wang ◽  
Jie Zhai ◽  
Yi Fang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Given that no approved targeted agents for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) and no opportunity of surgery for metastatic breast cancer (MBC), new treatment options are urgently to be discovered. The anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy may be effective, and what we should be aware of is the response rate and adverse events. Methods. The PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane and www.clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched to find potential studies using the following strategies: anti-PD-1/PD-L1; metastatic; breast cancer. R© package Meta was used to pool incidence. Results. Six studies including 586 advanced breast cancer patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents were included in this meta-analysis. The anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents include pembrolizumab, atezolizumab and avelumab. Among these patients, CR was 1.26%, PR was 7.65%, ORR was 9.85% and DCR was 18.33%. We also found that the response rate was closely associated with the expression of PD-L1 biomarker (PD-L1+ vs PD-L1-): the CR was 2.71% vs 0.00%; the PR was 9.93% vs 2.69%; the ORR was 10.62% vs 3.07%; the DCR was 17.95% vs 4.71%. 1-year overall survival rate and 6-months progression-free survival rate were 43.34% and 17.24%. Respectively, the overall incidence of AEs was 64.18% in any grade and 12.94% in severe grade. The incidence of irAEs was 14.75%. Besides, the incidence of discontinue and death due to treatment-related AEs was about 3.06% and 0.31% respectively. When the detailed AEs were analyzed, most treatment-related AEs of any grade were arthraigia, asthenia, decreased appetite; most common treatment-related AEs of severe grade were anemia, autoimmune hepatitis, diarrhea; the most common irAEs were hypothyroidism , followed by hyperthyroidism, pneumonitis and infusion-related reaction. Conclusions. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy showed a manageable safety profile and had a durable anti-tumor clinical activity in a subset of patients with mTNBC or MBC. PD-L1 expression may be correlated to a higher probability of clinical response.


Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Rossi ◽  
Paola Berchialla ◽  
Diana Giannarelli ◽  
Cecilia Nisticò ◽  
Gianluigi Ferretti ◽  
...  

Background: We aim to understand whether all patients with hormonal receptor (HR)-positive (+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative (−) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) should receive cyclin D-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor-based therapy as a first-line approach. Methods: A network meta-analysis (NMA) using the Bayesian hierarchical arm-based model, which provides the estimates for various effect sizes, were computed. Results: First-line treatment options in HR+/HER2− MBC, including CDK 4/6 inhibitors combined with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) or fulvestrant (F), showed a significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) in comparison with AI monotherapy, with a total of 26% progression risk reduction. In the indirect comparison across the three classes of CDK 4/6 inhibitors and F endocrine-based therapies, the first strategy resulted in longer PFS, regardless of specific CDK 4/6 inhibitor (HR: 0.68; 95% CrI: 0.53–0.87 for palbociclib + AI, HR: 0.65; 95% CrI: 0.53–0.79 for ribociclib + AI, HR: 0.63; 95% CrI: 0.47–0.86 for abemaciclib + AI) and patient’s characteristics. Longer PFS was also found in patients with bone-only and soft tissues limited disease treated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors. Conclusions: CDK 4/6 inhibitors have similar efficacy when associated with an AI in the first-line treatment of HR+ MBC, and are superior to either F or AI monotherapy, regardless of any other patients or tumor characteristics.


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