Coral O. Omene, MD, PhD, medical oncologist, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, discusses the need to improve early access to breast cancer screenings for patients in underserved populations and recent updates to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines on breast cancer screening.

Effective breast cancer screening modalities, including mammograms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), remain a critical part of breast cancer prevention and diagnosis, Omene begins. It is well established the chance of achieving a cure for patients with breast cancer rise if disease is detected early; however, barriers to early screening still exist for some women, specifically for those in underserved minority populations, Omene emphasizes.

For example, women in rural areas face additional challenges finding access to these screenings measures, since traveling to receive a mammogram or an MRI may be an issue.

Notably, there were inconsistencies in the NCCN screening guidelines, Omene says. The majority of most women receive their initial referrals for their screenings at the primary care level, Omene continues., Inconsistencies in these guidelines led to varying referral practices for patients, and it remains paramount that women are referred for screening at appropriate times, she adds.

Omene notes that is has been gratifying to see updates and improvements to the way patients are referred based on these guidelines. Providing screening at younger ages will serve as a benefit for more women, Omene concludes.

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Coral O. Omene, MD, PhD, discusses the need to improve early access to breast cancer screenings for patients in underserved populations and recent updates to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines on breast cancer screening.


Dr Omene on the Importance of Access to Breast Cancer Screenings in Underserved Populations

Coral O. Omene, MD, PhD, medical oncologist, Rutgers Cancer Institute, discusses the importance of a multidisciplinary, patient-focused approach to mitigating disparities in the care of patients with breast cancer.

Medical oncologists are part of a team of people, including nurses, patient navigators, and social workers, who need to work together to ensure they have identified and addressed potential barriers to effective cancer care for each of their patients, Omene says. Although a provider may effectively communicate a treatment plan to their patient, if the patient cannot follow the treatment plan because of their work schedule, for example, they may miss their appointments, Omene explains. Although this type of occurrence is termed noncompliance, patients often have valid reasons for not following their treatment schedules, Omene notes.

Knowing each patient’s potential barriers to treatment access before determining their treatment plan can help providers accommodate patient needs, according to Omene. For instance, if a patient is worried about taking time off from work, their physician might contact the patient’s employer to advocate for more time off on their behalf or suggest an equally effective treatment plan that fits better with the patient’s schedule, Omene says. If a patient is experiencing transportation issues that interfere with their ability to receive treatments, social workers can intervene, Omene suggests. Or, in the case of financial obstacles, oncologists can provide patients with information about financial resources such as coupons, Omene explains.

Providers have resources at their disposal that they can offer to their patients to help them avoid obstacles and receive the care they need, but the only way they will truly know the needs of each patient is through communication, Omene emphasizes. The responsibility to initiate these conversations should not fall on the patients, who may not address these issues unprompted, Omene notes. Instead, physicians and their teams should ask the proper questions to get to know each patient beyond their disease, Omene concludes.

Coral O. Omene, MD, PhD, discusses the importance of a multidisciplinary, patient-focused approach to mitigating disparities in the care of patients with breast cancer.

Coral O. Omene, MD, PhD

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Dr Omene on the Importance of Access to Breast Cancer Screenings in Underserved Populations

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