BeiGene Calls for Greater Integration of Mental Health in Cancer Care After New Survey Reveals Gaps/Barriers for Patients and Survivors
December 09 2022 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
BeiGene, a global biotechnology company, is convening diverse
stakeholders to amplify the mental health needs of the cancer
community during an event hosted for patient advocates and
scientists attending the American Society of Hematology (ASH)
Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans. In collaboration with
Cancer Support Community (CSC), the company will preview new
national survey findings1, including that 60 percent of individuals
impacted by cancer who experienced emotional distress were not
referred to a mental health professional by their cancer care team,
and one in five who specifically wanted mental health support did
not receive it.
“The isolation, stress and access issues experienced by cancer
patients point us to a truth that was already self-evident within
the cancer community, which is that mental healthcare matters,”
said Dr. Christiane Langer, “CSC’s findings underscore the
importance and urgency of this conversation in a post-COVID
environment.”
“Advocacy organizations like Cancer Support Community have been
engaged in this work for quite some time, and BeiGene is committed
to working with CSC and other stakeholders to identify and provide
solutions that address the holistic needs of patients,” said Maia
Thrift-Perry, Global Advocacy Director, BeiGene.
With support from BeiGene, the online survey was conducted as
part of CSC’s flagship research study, the Cancer Experience
Registry, and included more than 600 U.S. cancer patients and
survivors who self-identified as having faced emotional or mental
health concerns. Findings illuminated key themes and
challenges:
- Emotional Distress is Prevalent Across the Cancer
Continuum: While highest during diagnosis, treatment, and
recurrence; even those who are in post-treatment or have no current
evidence of disease often experience some form of emotional
distress.
- Significant Barriers to Mental Health Care Exist:
Individual viewpoints (i.e., beliefs that emotional distress will
resolve on its own, discomfort discussing feelings) and access
issues (e.g., financial barriers to treatment and telehealth, long
appointment wait times, mental health professional shortages) are
among the barriers reported.
- Interventions to Complement Both Medication and Counseling
are Desired: While 58 percent of respondents received care from
a mental health professional, and 48 percent were prescribed
depression or anxiety medication, many respondents endorsed other
services and activities to help reduce distress and improve
emotional well-being, such as exercise (66%) and meditation classes
(62%), nutrition programs (61%), and support groups (60%).
- Pre-existing Vulnerability to Anxiety/Depression is Not the
Only Risk Factor: In addition to symptom burden and impact, key
patient concerns including healthcare team communication,
relationships and intimacy, body image and healthy lifestyle are
important considerations in understanding risk for anxiety and
depression among patients and survivors.
"For 40 years, the Cancer Support Community has been a
relentless ally for anyone impacted by cancer,” said CSC CEO Debbie
Weir. “As part of our mission, we are dedicated to inspiring change
that improves the cancer experience by engaging in research that
sheds light on the realities of coping with a cancer diagnosis. We
are pleased to partner with BeiGene to raise awareness about the
mental health challenges faced by people living with cancer.”
The survey findings will be discussed today at “Cancer and
Mental Health: The Science and Art of Whole Patient Health,” a
BeiGene-hosted event featuring renowned experts. Topics of
conversation will include the practice of mental healthcare in a
cancer setting; and the impact of inequality and health equity on
access, research opportunities, and clinical guidelines. Finally,
the group will address policy changes needed to systemically
integrate mental health and wellness into quality cancer care that
serves the whole patient. BeiGene intends to utilize the survey’s
comprehensive findings to advance these conversations with the
advocacy community, healthcare providers and policymakers as part
of the Company’s new program, Talk About It: Cancer and Mental
Health.
For more information about the research findings and BeiGene’s
new program, please visit
http://www.beigene.com/for-patients/cancer-mental-health/.
*This meeting was not an official program of the ASH annual
meeting.
About Talk About It: Cancer and Mental Health BeiGene
believes mental health support can improve quality of life and
health outcomes for individuals impacted by cancer. Aimed at
patients and caregivers, healthcare professionals and policymakers,
BeiGene’s new and comprehensive program, Talk About It: Cancer and
Mental Health, is designed to elevate the important intersection of
mental health and cancer care. Talk About It will feature
innovative empowerment strategies, advance public policy
conversations, and inspire dynamic health equity initiatives to
support people throughout their entire cancer journey. To learn
more about Talk About It, visit
http:///www.beigene.com/for-patients/cancer-mental-health/.
About BeiGene BeiGene is a global biotechnology company
that is developing and commercializing innovative and affordable
oncology medicines to improve treatment outcomes and access for far
more patients worldwide. With a broad portfolio, we are expediting
development of our diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics through
our internal capabilities and collaborations. We are committed to
radically improving access to medicines for far more patients who
need them. Our growing global team of more than 9,000 colleagues
spans five continents, with administrative offices in Beijing,
China; Cambridge, U.S.; and Basel, Switzerland. To learn more about
BeiGene, please visit www.beigene.com and follow us on Twitter at
@BeiGeneGlobal.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal
securities laws, including statements regarding BeiGene’s plans,
strategies, commitments, aspirations, and goals for the Talk About
It program, and BeiGene’s plans, commitments, aspirations and goals
under the caption “About BeiGene”. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements
as a result of various important factors, including BeiGene's
ability to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its drug
candidates; the clinical results for its drug candidates, which may
not support further development or marketing approval; actions of
regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing and
progress of clinical trials and marketing approval; BeiGene's
ability to achieve commercial success for its marketed medicines
and drug candidates, if approved; BeiGene's ability to obtain and
maintain protection of intellectual property for its medicines and
technology; BeiGene's reliance on third parties to conduct drug
development, manufacturing, commercialization, and other services;
BeiGene’s limited experience in obtaining regulatory approvals and
commercializing pharmaceutical products and its ability to obtain
additional funding for operations and to complete the development
of its drug candidates and achieve and maintain profitability; the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BeiGene’s clinical development,
regulatory, commercial, manufacturing, and other operations, as
well as those risks more fully discussed in the section entitled
“Risk Factors” in BeiGene’s most recent quarterly report on Form
10-Q, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and
other important factors in BeiGene's subsequent filings with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this
press release is as of the date of this press release, and BeiGene
undertakes no duty to update such information unless required by
law.
1 Cancer Support Community (2022). Cancer Experience Registry
Spotlight Survey: Identifying Barriers to Accessing Mental Health
Care among Cancer Patients and Survivors [Unpublished data, August
2021]
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221209005054/en/
Investor Kevin Mannix +1-857-302-5189 ir@beigene.com
Media Caryn Marshall +1 862-444-1904
media@beigene.com
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