Connection, Screening, and Comprehensive Care in the Fight Against Cancer
1. Educating and connecting people to personified cancer screening and early detection can help lesson the impact of future disease.
2. The more we can help people understand how their bodies work and individually assess their genetic and modifiable risk factors, the greater the impact we can have on their engagement with cancer screenings.
3. Cancer is now the biggest driver of employer healthcare costs, making comprehensive cancer care a priority for most top employers as they look for new ways to give their employees every advantage.
When it is easy for people to access high-quality, affordable health and care from the palm of their hand, it can be easier to educate them and connect them to the personalized screening and early detection resources that might help lessen the impact of future disease. This is critical to the fight against cancer, as globally, 44% of expected cancer related deaths could be attributed to cancers that had preventable risk factors.
Though there are multiple national campaigns aiming to inform the public regarding the importance of cancer screenings available, many barriers still exist. These include community resources, access to healthcare, systemic limitations, cost, time, patient apprehension, amongst others. The reality is that these roadblocks can sometimes result in missed opportunities for more effective treatment options and proactive lifestyle changes.
As a physician in the Transcarent Clinic, I look for opportunities to make sure our Members understand their individual risks, age-appropriate screening tests available to them, and how early detection can lead to more positive future outcomes. Our Members have an easy path to access the information and care they need with our on-demand, text-first virtual care modality which allows them to instantly connect to a clinician from anywhere at any time.
During my 15 years of practice, I have learned that taking a holistic approach to cancer screening conversations allows me to connect with people on a personal level. The more we can help people understand how their bodies work and individually assess their genetic and modifiable risk factors, the greater the impact we can have on their compliance with cancer screenings – which could lead to changing the trajectory of their future wellbeing.
In recent years, I have become especially concerned with the growing trend of increased cancer diagnosis in younger adults. We now hear about many of these cases in mainstream and social media. I have seen that sharing more stories about unexpected cancer diagnosis can help people better relate to how screening can change their lives and transform the, “it can’t happen to me” mentality. This further underscores the importance of being able to meaningfully connect with people, earlier in life, to help them be proactive and get screened at the appropriate age.
Timing can be everything. Summertime is a crucial time of year to engage people in these conversations, especially young adults. A time of fun and freedom, it is easy to overlook simple preventive but vital measures like sun protection. Melanoma is currently the 3rd most diagnosed cancer among 25–30-year-olds in the U.S., and it’s the 9th most common for ages 15-19.
By providing direct access to expert, compassionate clinicians, at the Transcarent Clinic, we strive to make a meaningful impact through education and guidance about preventative measures when needed. It is important to remind Members that using sunscreen and limiting the amount of time spent in direct sunlight can make a significant difference. Aside from this, we can tailor recommendations given family history and work exposure. We also help to debunk myths about skin cancer. And more importantly, we educate Members on monitoring their skin for any changes in spots or moles between recommended dermatology check-ups. They can always consult with us if they have any concerns about a new lesion.
Expanding awareness about necessary cancer screenings and finding a way to relate to people to encourage them to take action is more important than ever, as new cases continue to tick upward. Cancer is now the biggest driver of employer healthcare costs, making comprehensive cancer care a priority for most top employers as they look for new ways to give their employees every advantage. At Transcarent, we are committed to walking with our Members along every step on the cancer journey and will continue to educate, advocate, and connect people to the high-quality, end-to-end care they need from screening to survivorship so they can live happy and healthy lives.
