ABSTRACT
In this plain language podcast, highlights from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress are discussed for a second year in a row, from the perspective of both a patient advocate and a healthcare professional. The patient advocacy track at the congress included two patient-focused sessions each day on a variety of topics. Here, the authors discuss the importance of involving patients in the design of clinical trials, as well as strategies to improve dialogue and connections between clinicians, researchers and patients. Patient advocacy organisations provide essential services to patients with cancer and their caregivers, and patient advocates play a critical role in helping to inform patients and caregivers in making clinical decisions. Congresses such as ESMO provide an important platform for patient advocates to connect with each other and with physicians and researchers to ensure that patients are placed at the centre of the conversation and are up to date on the latest findings that affect them. The authors also discuss the latest research on genitourinary cancers, focusing on bladder and kidney cancer. Promising results are emerging for combination antibody-drug conjugates and immunotherapy for patients with hard-to-treat, locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer who are ineligible for platinum-based chemotherapy. In the management of kidney cancer, we may be reaching an end for immune checkpoint inhibitors on their own; the path ahead will be to find new targets and combinations. Podcast Audio (MP4 169766 KB).
Subject(s)
Caregivers , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms , Humans , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/surgery , PatientsABSTRACT
In this plain language podcast, highlights from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2021 are discussed from the perspective of both a patient and a healthcare professional. The patient advocacy track at the congress was co-developed with patients, and was integrated into the overall programme. It included four sessions on the financial impact of cancer, treatments that use the body's immune system to fight cancer, technology, and rare cancers. This comes at a time when there is an increasing focus on the value of real-world data (data from a real-life setting, rather than in a clinical trial) and a more active role for patients and patient organisations as partners in research. Challenges and opportunities arising during the COVID-19 pandemic were also discussed, including logistical complexities in healthcare and consequent uncertainty for patients in accessing care, and opportunities including increased use of telemedicine and broader participation offered by virtual/on-site hybrid congress formats, as used in ESMO 2021. Data discussed on combination treatments for patients with bladder cancer suggest an improved chance of remission for patients intolerant or resistant to existing treatment. Some of the data from studies in kidney cancer also suggest that treatment breaks or longer periods between treatment can improve quality of life and reduce treatment costs, without reducing treatment effectiveness. Although data on bladder and kidney cancer studies were seen to be promising, the authors recognise the time it takes for such findings to reach clinical practice, and the importance of managing expectations in the patient community. The authors conclude their discussion by reflecting on key challenges and opportunities moving forward, including restoring and improving care and efficiency of cancer services, and working together with patient advocates and advocacy organisations as essential partners in achieving this. ESMO Podcast video.
ABSTRACT
With the European Parliament elections having taken place in May 2019 and a new European Commission (EC) taking office in November 2019, this year is critical for European policymakers, as goals and priorities of the European Union (EU) for the next five years will be discussed and agreed upon. This Manifesto issued by the Transforming Breast Cancer Together initiative calls upon policymakers to improve services for patients in an area still of high unmet need and reduce the societal impact of breast cancer by elevating it as a health policy priority to improve breast cancer prevention, diagnosis and care across Europe.
