In 2018, over 29,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in California and an estimated 4,500 will die of the disease. Yet patients and survivors continue to face serious economic, emotional and structural barriers to care, all while balancing family and work obligations. In this March 19 seminar, key findings were released from a two-year Center study of the obstacles breast cancer patients face accessing care in California. Study authors Ninez Ponce, associate Center director, and researcher AJ Scheitler discussed three of the most pressing obstacles: 1) A need for patient navigators to help breast cancer survivors understand and access services; 2) A lack of continuity of care within the complex system of providers, support services and insurance requirements, and; 3) The particular obstacles facing low-income women, including narrow provider networks and time limits on coverage. Please join us for this critical discussion of how California can better extend life-saving, life-extending treatments and services that enhance quality of life for survivors of this highly-prevalent disease.
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