2022 Report Card on Lymphomas:
Spotlight on the Experience of Patients with Indolent Lymphomas
This report focuses specifically on the experience of those diagnosed with an indolent lymphoma, and the challenges living with a chronic cancer brings. Despite the existence of defined care pathways and referral processes, patients’ experiences are rarely linear and always unique, which allows space for gaps in support. Through gaining a better understanding of the challenges and issues that patients’ face during each phase of their care, LC hopes to bring awareness to and aid in bridging these gaps.
Key issues include:
- Diagnosis delays;
- Negative impact on patients’ quality of life;
- Access to credible, useable information to help them engage in their own care decisions;
- Healthcare systems are not patient-centred and do not reflect the unique needs of patients living with indolent lymphomas, especially those in active monitoring.
2020 Report Card on Lymphomas:
The impact of COVID-19 on Care
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel (or new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. On 11 March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Throughout 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the entire oncology community and has altered healthcare delivery for a duration that cannot yet be estimated. Patients with cancer are more susceptible to COVID-19 not only because of their underlying malignancy, but also because of the anti-cancer therapies they undergo that result in a suppressed immune system.
It is important that the challenges associated with managing patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic be identified and mitigated for current and future pandemic preparedness, as well as ensuring the long-term impact of actions taken during the current pandemic are tracked and analysed.
This report points to various COVID-19-related impacts on patients with cancer, specific to lymphomas and CLL where possible, that have been identified through research. The specific areas of impact include:
Key issues include:
- Clinical care and practice
- Psychosocial effects, including data from the Lymphoma Coalition 2020 Global Patient Survey (LC 2020 GPS)
- Cancer research
- Patient organisations
Major gaps in care for patients with cancer are identified and summarised, and recommendations for closing these gaps are described.