Every breast cancer patient deserves a fighting chance

OPINION – Each breast cancer patient has their own story. For some of us, breast cancer runs in our family and we’ve had family discussions about our risk. For others, the diagnosis comes out of left field and there’s nowhere to turn.

As a psychologist, patient advocate and survivor of an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis I know firsthand that breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. It impacts every generation – from young women who are just starting their careers to grandmothers who are enjoying retired life. It strikes women while they’re raising children, climbing the corporate ladder, training for marathons, traveling the world, and everywhere in between.

Though our breast cancer stories are different, we all will never forget the pain and emotional toll of hearing the diagnosis vocalized by our health care provider for the first time.

Some patients find out they have breast cancer when it’s still in an early stage, when they have treatment options and time to make the decision that works best for them. Other patients, unfortunately, learn they have breast cancer when it’s in a later stage and requires more aggressive and personalized treatments.

As a patient advocate for mental health conditions, I know the importance of having timely access to prescribed medications. Breast cancer is unforgiving and can spread quickly when appropriate treatment is delayed. Wasted time allows tumors to grow and patients to lose hope.

Medical innovation has improved outcomes for breast cancer patients in recent years. Along with better technology that allows health care providers to find cancerous tumors sooner, there are also cancer treatments on the market that help patients live longer without disease progression.

For example, CDK4/6 inhibitors have proven to stop the progression of HR+ and HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Medications in this drug class are combined with hormone therapy to put cancer growth on pause and extend patients’ lives without disease progression.

While successful treatments like CDK4/6 inhibitors are on the market, patients and their health care providers may struggle to access them. Some health insurance plans bar patients from accessing their prescribed treatments immediately. Patients may first have to try alternatives before the health insurance plan approves their prescription, or their health care provider may have to complete extra administrative paperwork to send in the prescription.

Is this how we should treat breast cancer patients?

Insurance companies should not stand between breast cancer and remission. It isn’t right, and it isn’t fair.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m working to make sure patients have the best fighting chance against breast cancer. That includes access to early detection and innovative medications that give patients the best treatment outcomes.

When we work together, we can accomplish great things. We all must stand strong and take action for the breast cancer patients and survivors in our lives. They deserve better.

Le Ondra Clark Harvey, PH.D is CEO of the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies and the Executive Director of California Access Coalition.