Dr Siegel on the Importance of Closing the Gaps in Cancer Care

David Samuel Dicapua Siegel, MD, medical oncologist, chief, Myeloma Division, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, discusses the importance of closing the gaps in cancer care and spreading awareness of current treatment inequities in oncology through campaigns such as World Cancer Day.

World Cancer Day is an initiative that unites the global community in their collective battle against the cancer epidemic. The platform serves to facilitate the overarching goal of preventing millions of deaths by fostering awareness about cancer. The theme for this year's World Cancer Day, “Close the Care Gap,” encapsulates the collective call for leaders to commit to and prioritize the fight against cancer. It also emphasizes the need for innovative strategies that address disparities and optimally allocate resources to dismantle treatment barriers. The focus is on ensuring that leaders comprehend the urgency of closing the care gap in oncology by confronting the root cause of inequities.

Siegel says that oncologists at Hackensack University Medical Center are fortunate to be affiliated with institutions in the New York metropolitan area, which is a highly diverse location. This location comprises a variety of ethnic groups and behavioral subsets, he elucidates. It is essential to investigate real-world experiences and outcomes in this diverse patient population to gain insights into cancer care not only at Hackensack Meridian Health but more broadly across various settings, Siegel explains.

Both regulatory bodies and the broader community must recognize the immense value of real-world data, Siegel says. The systematic collection of data across diverse populations should be a prerequisite for the incorporation of certain drugs into community practice.

Consequently, guidelines and regulations regarding how to integrate this approach into medical practices must be established, he concludes. Overall, assessing real-world outcomes with specific therapies in diverse patient populations can provide substantial insight into methods for improving the accessibility and proper implementation of these regimens.