Health Care Survey of Hispanic Patients Says…

• 88% rely on family encouragement for health and wellness screenings
• 64% have avoided common recommended health screenings, such as a full body skin cancer scan, colonoscopy, pap smear, and mammogram
• MOST survey respondents who have received a cancer diagnosis are more likely to have avoided common health screenings than those who have not, underscoring the importance of
  regular screenings
  • Hispanic survey respondents reported receiving a cancer diagnosis at
    nearly twice the rate of the general population, with 40% of those diagnosed finding out during a regularly scheduled cancer screening, compared to 30% of non-Hispanics
• 42% indicate that language is a hurdle to understanding their health care needs and insurance policies
• More than half of respondents (54%) cite logistical barriers that prevent them from getting health screenings on time, including conflicts with work hours, challenges taking time

Source. 2024 Wellness Matters Survey. Conducted in April 2024 by Kantar Profiles on behalf of Aflac.

Are Patients Paying Too Much for Colonoscopies?

The Colon Cancer Coalition reports that a new study finds that many patients are still paying out of pocket for bowel preparations needed for colonoscopy, despite a federal law that says these services should be covered by insurance. The study analyzed nearly 2.6 million commercial and Medicare Part D insurance claims from May 2022 to April 2023 to see how many patients paid for bowel prep medications needed for colonoscopy; data suggest that only 17% of patients pay zero for these medications.

Source. The Colon Cancer Coalition. Most patients incur costs for colonoscopy preparation that they shouldn’t have to pay.

3 Key Findings from the 2024 “State of Lung Cancer” Report

• The lung cancer 5-year survival rate has increased 26% from 2017-2021.
• Lung cancer screening rates remain low at just 16%.
• For the first time, the report examines insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing in each state and finds that only 15 states provide comprehensive coverage.

Source. American Lung Association. State of Lung Cancer 2024.

Source. Fair Health, Inc. Cancer in Younger Adults: A Claims-Based Study.

5 Projects Selected for Cancer Research in Space

1. University of Connecticut. This project seeks to produce cancer therapeutics in space using Janus nanomaterials designed to target drug delivery to solid tumors, improving cancer treatment and reducing side effects.
2. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This project aims to grow cardiac spheroids with blood vessels from induced pluripotent stem cells in space for cardiovascular disease modeling and to test how cancer drugs affect the heart.
3. University of California, San Diego. This project seeks to use patient-derived tumor organoids to study accelerated cancer development in microgravity and identify new cancer therapeutic targets.
4. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. This project aims to use microgravity to better understand how T-cells work in order to develop new immunotherapy treatments for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases.
5. Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. This project seeks to use organoids created from cells recovered from colorectal cancer patients to see if chemotherapy works better in space, offering insight into improved chemotherapies.

Source. Cancer research in space for fife on earth: five projects selected through ISS National Lab solicitation in partnership with NASA. International Space Station National Laboratory.