Zhang, Sobecki talk about barriers to equitable cancer care with OncLive

In “Action is Key to Continue to Break Down Barriers for Equitable Cancer Care,” Zhang and Sobecki noted how rural communities especially are impacted by less access to good oncologic care and the implications of racial inequity, financial barriers, historical trauma, or health illiteracy on patient outcomes within oncologic care.

“In the field of gynecologic oncology, [specifically] in uterine cancer, which has had well-documented racial inequity, sometimes the way that we approach diagnoses can create delays in that process. [Providing] access for patients to arrive within the health care setting [is one challenge]; how we're managing early signs and symptoms once they arrive in our system can also have an impact,” said Sobecki.

In terms of moving forward in the field, Zhang mentioned how, “Mentorship is so important. We've started this [conversation] talking about how we need to increase representation [of women] at the leadership level, but it's important, even as a reminder for myself, that representation is just the beginning.”

Read the full article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson