Carrie Stricker, PhD, RN, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, discusses preliminary data from a pilot study that examined the efficacy of survivorship care plan delivery for post-treatment breast cancer survivors.

The study found that supportive care referrals increased substantially when a survivorship care plan was provided that contained a summary of the treatment provided and a roadmap of what to expect in the future. The majority of the referrals that resulted focused on exercise, physical therapy, and psychosocial needs. Stricker is optimistic that the added supportive care referrals will also result in better outcomes.

Stricker believes the positive results from this preliminary pilot study warrant a larger randomized trial to further examine the efficacy of survivorship care plans and their possible connection to improved outcomes.

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Carrie Stricker from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania on the Efficacy of Survivorship Care Plans for Posttreatment Breast Cancer Survivors.

Carrie Stricker on the Efficacy of Survivorship Care Plans

Carrie Stricker, PhD, RN, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Abramson Cancer Center, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, discusses barriers to starting patients on a combination of a NK1 receptor antagonist with 5-HT3 receptor antagonist plus dexamethasone, which is currently the standard of care for patients receiving highly emetogenic anticancer therapies.

The largest barrier for this therapy has traditionally been costs. In recent years, this has become less of a concern as insurance reimbursement has begun synchronizing with guidelines. The out of pocket costs were the greatest concern for patients until the development of an intravenous formulation of the NK1 receptor antagonist aprepitant.

The intravenous form, known as fosaprepitant, was shown to be equivalent to the three-day oral form, and generally does not require copay for the patient. This new formulation of the NK1 agonist has helped to remove one of largest compliance barriers.

Carrie Stricker, PhD, RN, from Abramson Cancer Center, on Barriers to Adopting Triple Therapy

Carrie Stricker, PhD, RN

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Carrie Stricker on the Efficacy of Survivorship Care Plans

Carrie Stricker on Barriers to Adopting Triple Therapy