Lisa Lacasse: ACS CAN Survey Reveals Gaps in Patient Awareness of Pharmacogenomic Testing
Lisa Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Both education about and access to advancements in cancer care and personalized medicine are critical in the fight against cancer! A new American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) reveals that many cancer patients are unaware of the benefits of pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing – a form of biomarker testing that can improve treatment effectiveness and reduce adverse drug reactions.
Fewer than half of surveyed patients were familiar with PGx testing. Of those who were, one-third learned about it independently, not from their care team. When presented with a hypothetical scenario, 70% of patients said they would be concerned about proceeding with treatment without first being offered a PGx test.
‘Biomarker testing, including pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing, can play a crucial role in improving cancer outcomes and decreasing cancer disparities, but many patients aren’t aware of it or their insurance doesn’t cover it. Cancer patients should be informed by their physicians about the benefits of PGx testing, when appropriate, to ensure they can access the right treatment and the right dose at the right time.
ACS CAN is working to expand access to comprehensive biomarker testing, including PGx, in every state across the country, so that no patient is disadvantaged.’ said Mark Fleury. PhD, Principal, Policy Development – Emerging Science at ACS CAN.”
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