Healthcare professionals and industry experts gathered at the Orlando World Center Marriott for the 2024 NCODA International Fall Summit, showcasing the latest developments in cancer care and treatment strategies from October 23 to October 25.
Advancing Patient-Centered Cancer Care
The summit opened with an inspiring keynote address from Chaunte Lowe, a four-time Olympian and breast cancer survivor, who shared her personal journey and highlighted the vital role of healthcare specialists in advancing cancer treatment. Michael Reff, RPh, MBA, NCODA Executive Director and Founder, emphasized the summit's mission to equip healthcare professionals with practical tools for enhancing therapy access and streamlining patient care operations.
Breakthrough Developments in Breast Cancer Treatment
Dr. Joyce O'Shaughnessy, a hematology and oncology specialist at Texas Oncology, presented significant advances in both early and metastatic breast cancer treatment. Her session detailed the benefits of adjunct CDK4/6 and checkpoint inhibitors, providing crucial guidance on patient selection for chemotherapy versus endocrine therapy across different breast cancer subtypes.
Safety and Precision Medicine Initiatives
The summit featured comprehensive coverage of safety protocols in oncology practice. Liz Vogel, CPhT-Adv, CSPT, from Mayo Clinic, delivered essential information on hazardous drug compounding safety, covering US Pharmacopeia <800> standards and environmental monitoring procedures.
In a notable session on precision medicine in lung cancer, experts from the Moffitt Cancer Center discussed their approach to treating stage 3A adenocarcinoma. The presentation emphasized the critical role of genetic testing, adjuvant immunotherapy, and targeted treatments, while highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary team collaboration.
Addressing Healthcare Access Challenges
Nathan Vanderford, PhD, MBA, from the University of Kentucky, addressed the significant barriers to healthcare access, particularly in rural areas. His discussion focused on how limited institutional resources and infrastructure affect healthcare delivery to patients in underserved regions like rural Kentucky.
Market Trends and Future Outlook
Doug Long, vice president of Industry Relations at IQVIA, provided insights into oncology market trends, discussing the expansion of the US oncology market, increasing treatment costs, ongoing research and development efforts, and equity considerations in cancer care delivery.
The summit reinforced NCODA's commitment to advancing cancer care through professional education, collaboration, and patient-centered approaches, providing attendees with actionable strategies to improve treatment outcomes and patient care quality.
