In The News

In a featured segment, Debra Patt, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Executive Vice President, Public Policy, Payer Relations, and Strategic Initiatives at Texas Oncology, addressed roadblocks to cancer screenings caused by COVID-19 in 2020 and how those challenges continue to reverberate. According to Dr. Patt, the issue is multifaceted since there is diminishing capacity to handle screening requests, and staffing shortages are resulting in delays for individuals who are ready and want to get screenings.

There are several things on our “to do” list that we’re all really good at putting off to avoid disruption to our daily routines. However, when it comes to cancer screenings, it’s worth a little disruption, especially colorectal cancer screenings - a great example of something many would prefer not to do and often delay. Mika Cline, M.D., of Texas Oncology–Austin Midtown and Muffaddal Morkas, M.D. of Texas Oncology–Houston Memorial City share the importance of detecting cancer early, especially since colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer of men and women combined in the U.S. Screenings are essential to diagnosing colorectal cancer because the disease typically lacks symptoms in the early stages.

In the March edition of Texas Month, Andrew Lee, M.D., MPH, radiation oncologist and medical director at Texas Center for Proton Therapy and Jared Sturgeon, M.D., Ph.D., radiation oncologist at Texas Center for Proton Therapy emphasized the advanced technology and minimal side effects associated with proton therapy and how it may be the ideal treatment option for patients with head and neck cancers. According to Dr. Lee, proton therapy can increase the quality of life for patients both during and after treatment, and Dr. Sturgeon added that proton therapy has been shown in studies to increase a patient’s ability to receive other concurrent or sequential therapies, which can improve cure rates and overall patient outcomes.

Officials from the Texas Department of State Health announced the state received approximately 47,000 courses of Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody treatment, aimed to give additional protection from COVID-19 for patients unable to create a high level of antibodies in response to the vaccine. Of the providers supplied with the treatment, Texas Oncology–Amarillo Cancer Center is the only provider in the Amarillo area offering Evusheld to its patients. According to J. Tucker Osteen, M.D, hematologist and medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Amarillo Cancer Center, the overall reaction have been favorable and has helped reduce a layer of uncertainty among immunocompromised patients in the area.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a drastic decline in routine cancer screenings. In light of National Cancer Prevention Month, Dr. Carlos Encarnacion spoke with KXXV-TV (ABC, Waco) about the importance of scheduling screenings to prevent late-stage cancer diagnoses, which are not as treatable as cancers that are caught early on. 

For National Cancer Prevention Month, Ashwani Agarwal, M.D., medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Corsicana and Shail Dalal, M.D., hematologist and medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Palestine Cancer Center, encourage those who have put off a routine screening, are overdue for an annual exam, or are experiencing concerning symptoms to schedule an appointment with their healthcare team as soon as possible. Seeing a doctor could be a lifesaving move, especially when it comes to cancer.

A new monoclonal antibody treatment called Evusheld for the immunocompromised has been available for providers and patients since early January, but health experts in Texas say people aren’t asking for it. Debra Patt, M.D., PhD, MBA, executive vice president of policy and strategic initiatives at Texas Oncology, joins Spectrum News Austin to explain how Evusheld can help protect immunocompromised patients from COVID-19, as well as the importance of increasing awareness for the treatment.

Administrators, clinicians, and policy makers within community oncology will come together for the first in-person Community Oncology Alliance (COA) meeting in two years to attend sessions on practice management, health disparities, and issues facing their respective practices in 2022. Debra Patt, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Executive Vice President, Public Policy, Payer Relations, and Strategic Initiatives at Texas Oncology, speaks on the key discussions to be held at the 2022 Community Oncology Conference for in-person attendees while also expressing her enthusiasm for holding an in-person meeting for the first time since 2019.

After being treated by Texas Oncology for two types of cancer, Nancy Drexler has made it her mission to advocate for cancer screenings, and bring hope and happiness to others. Her physicians, Carlos Encarnacion, M.D., FACP, hematologist and medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Waco, Clifton, and Hamilton, and Michael Teneriello, M.D., FACOG, gynecologic oncologist at Texas Oncology–Austin Central and South Austin, work “in concert” to ensure Nancy has the best care available.

Breakthroughs that advance prevention and treatment of cancer are made possible by the courageous patients who volunteer to participate in clinical trials. Shail Dalal, M.D., hematologist and medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Palestine Cancer Center shares three questions to ask your oncologist about participating in a clinical trial.