This Life Support Panel Discussion with physicians from Yale New Haven Health is a important conversation on the topic of health disparities and what work is being done to end the injustices.

Genetic testing is a powerful tool for patients to utilize and can offer greater insights into the treatment best suited for breast cancer. Today, we discussed the benefits of genetic testing for both early stage and Metastatic Breast Cancer, what every patient should know when making the decision to get tested, and the psychosocial impact genetic testing has on patients and their families.

This Life Support Panel Discussion takes an introspective look at the challenges faced by those living with Metastatic Breast Cancer while raising children. Topics covered during our conversation included how to ask for help, how to talk to children in an age appropriate manner about this disease, and the impact this disease has on family life.

Conversations between clinicians and patients about the financial costs of treatment are critical to high-quality, patient-centered cancer care. Today, we discussed the financial burdens of an MBC diagnosis and identified ways healthcare providers can alleviate fears some patients have about disclosing debt in an effort to improve the overall healthcare experience.

Bidirectional Care Integration focuses on delivering whole-person care. Building trust and fostering open communication between patients and healthcare providers can significantly improve patient outcomes and today we will talk about the various ways Hartford Healthcare is investing in patient education and shared decision making as a way to provide the highest standard of care for their patients.

Insurance coverage for scalp cooling is not standard in the United States, therefore many patients, especially those in the underrepresented communities, do not have access. We have long felt that retaining one’s hair while undergoing cancer treatment is a matter of preserving dignity, and something that everyone should have access to regardless of race or socioeconomic background.