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Sep 28
Education

EDU 09 - Providing Equitable Care to Pregnant Patients

04:45pm - 06:00pm PT
Gynecological Cancer
Health Care Access and Engagement

MODERATOR(S)

Titania Juang, PhD - UC San Diego

session DESCRIPTION

Each year in the U.S., thousands of pregnant people will be diagnosed with cancer and face the need for radiotherapy. Radiation oncologists must help patients through difficult decisions which balance the risks of radiation treatment to both patient and potential fetus against the benefits of delivering timely, standard-of-care treatment. Even in the best of circumstances, it is difficult to navigate this complex situation and ensure optimal health care services are provided without introducing disparities in care. This session features a multidisciplinary panel - spanning radiation oncology, gynecology, and medical physics - that will provide varied perspectives and resources for evaluating and treating pregnant cancer patients. Key topics include case studies, practical resources for delivering patient-centered care, and strategies for shared decision making. Attendees will also learn about potential barriers to equitable care and recommendations for reducing disparities. This session will also bring focus to the patient experience with a video appearance from a patient advocate who was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant; she will share her personal journey and highlight the ways pregnancy impacted her care. By addressing clinical and patient-centered perspectives, this session aims to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to provide equitable, evidence-based care for pregnant cancer patients.

learning objectives

  1. Implement current guidelines for imaging and treating pregnant patients with radiotherapy.
  2. Identify barriers to providing equitable care to pregnant patients.
  3. Identify sources for patient pregnancy counseling and management and explain the importance of shared decision making with pregnant patients.

Credits

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits: 1.25

Presentations