Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update from 3 Black Docs

During our inaugural season we were fortunate to meet and interview an outstanding group  of people: researchers and clinicians, patients and caregivers, presidents and directors of large organizations with national reach and small local nonprofits.  I remember with great fondness each of these encounters and as production editor, found it painful to cut even a single syllable from what was said. The Best of 3 Black Docs episode, an abridged version of the original pod featuring Dr. Karen Winkfield, Dr. Zanetta Lamar, and Dr. Tiffany Avery, was the hardest one to do. The three brilliant female oncologists, collectively called “The Docs,” and Our MBC Life co-hosts came together to produce an episode that was both funny, serious, and poignant.  And like a good book, that you don’t want to end, I was sad that the interview was over. To my infinite delight,  Dr. Avery sent us a follow-up audio message.  It arrived too late to be included in the “Best of..” episode, but it stands on its own as an excellent blog entry.

Here is a transcript of Dr Avery’s message to Our MBC Life.

“First I'd like to say, thank you for inviting us back to give an update. It is hard to believe that the last time we  had spoken, was in the summer of 2020. Since then, there's been a lot of signs that there was going to be renewed work in terms of ending disparities across the board and among cancer patients in particular.

What has been interesting and different, I think, is that living through  the COVID pandemic, there's really been a spotlight on the issues that relate to disparities as we see in the pandemic, but also that affect cancer patients. What has been different this time is that  we are seeing an interest from across the spectrum of healthcare.

So it's not just academic institutions talking about it. We're seeing more from the pharmaceutical companies, from the insurance companies, from the community hospitals. And, you know, even I saw it today that Netflix is doing a presentation about disparities in healthcare. And so I think what is different and what is hopeful this time, is that there is a real focus and interest on moving the needle from lots of different players and lots of people, not just so much from academic institutions and physicians.

And that’s really what it's going to take. It's going to take an effort from a variety of interested parties among the spectrum. I can say we, on the podcast [3 Black Docs] have been surprised that we have gotten a  lot of interest and feedback from across the country and actually internationally, from around the world.

And so again, there's a real focus now on these issues. That being said, a lot of the things that impact the differences in survival among black breast cancer patients haven't seen the needle move yet, but I am hopeful that the change will come. One of the biggest issues remains — access to care, and that has been impacted with the COVID pandemic in terms of clinical trials being put on hold and shut down when the pandemic started.

And so I would say for folks to just keep an eye on that and continue to ask about access to trials, especially now that we know how they've been impacted in the pandemic.

The last question you asked, that was actually also related to the COVID pandemic, was around vaccinations. So what I would like for everyone to know is that our leading cancer societies have partnered with the infectious disease societies to put out recommendations in regards to cancer patients and the COVID vaccine. The recommendations from both societies are that all cancer patients be considered eligible to take the COVID vaccine. I think the two things that are really important to note is that the vaccine does not contain any virus that causes COVID. So there's not a chance of you contracting the illness from the vaccine because it doesn't contain any part of the virus itself. The second thing is to make sure that you will mount an appropriate immune response, and, of course, talk to your doctor about how to schedule it, if you are in active treatment, to best determine when you immune response would be at its best in response to the vaccination. The last thing to know is that the data show so far about the vaccination that it will decrease the disease severity. But the question of disease spread is still out there and you can certainly still catch it after having the vaccine.

It will decrease the severity of the illness though. So after you get the vaccine still so important to wear your mask, wash your hands and continue social distancing. That's it. It cover it. Thanks so much for inviting us to participate in the first place and for inviting us to give an update.”