Connie Batlevi, Senior Medical Director in Genentech, shared on LinkedIn:
”Every oncology professional knows the heavy, solemn silence that fills an exam room when a patient’s blood cancer diagnosis has returned.
My own memories of those rooms still hit me with a deep sense of sadness, a heavy heart, and a yearning to do more. I’ve witnessed the moment when the joy of planned milestones like weddings, graduations, and hard-earned vacations are replaced with uncertainty. Relapse doesn’t just challenge a patient’s body, it fractures their social world.
Science continues to advance, but the reality of receiving care remains complex. True access to care means addressing barriers patients and their families face every single day. A breakthrough treatment only matters if it can reach the patients who need it most.
I’m proud to work on a team at Genentech that understands that developing innovative medicine is only half the battle. We are focused on closing these gaps-advancing not just the science, but the holistic support systems required to deliver better care for everyone impacted by blood cancers.
Read more about my perspective on how we can better support patients throughout their care journeys in my article:
What Does It Mean When Blood Cancers Relapse?”
You can also read ‘Leukemia Diagnosis: Every Step From First Symptoms to Treatment and Beyond‘
