Access to complementary medicine for underserved women with cancer

Rapid advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment offer the promise that breast cancer will one day be a manageable, if not curable disease. However, women who are uninsured and lack access to primary care, health education, and early detection, will continue to be excluded from such progress because they are far more likely to be diagnosed with late stage cancer and face poor prognosis for survival. African American women, regardless of income, are more likely to be diagnosed with “triple negative” cancers with fewer treatment options open to them. In fact, cancer statistics indicate that all women of color, regardless of income, are at great risk for delayed cancer diagnosis and will be much less likely to survive their bout with breast cancer. CAM treatments, although rarely covered under public or private insurance, are a critical component of comprehensive cancer treatment because they are so effective in managing disabling side effects that can lead to interruption or termination of cancer treatments. Lack of access to CAM is a medical and ethical concern because timely completion of conventional cancer treatments may reduce the risk of recurrence and extend survival time even among women with advanced cancers. Leveraging the power of more than 350 dedicated CAM practitioners, The Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic will serve more than 700 low income women with cancer in the coming year, offering free CAM, Social Services, and survivorship programs. The clinic plays a crucial role within the public health care system by ensuring access to CAM for some of our most vulnerable, underserved community members.