By Anne Levin

A partnership between Penn Princeton Medical Center and students from Princeton University is designed to help underserved cancer patients get access to the resources they need. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, ACS CARES has included the University in a second round of educational institutions taking part in the national program.

“As the program expands into New Jersey, many of these resources will be directed towards the state’s minority populations who are most likely to encounter disparities in their fights against cancer,” reads a release.

Barriers related to finances, transportation, and food insecurity are among the issues to be targeted when the program begins in September.

ACS CARES was developed last year and launched with three pilot programs at the College of Charleston, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and the University of Iowa. Princeton is among nine institutions in the second round.

“Our goal is to provide the right information and the right resources at the right time, and in the right way, for folks who need them,” said Bonny Morris, who heads the ACS team. “We recognize that every person is different. We want these experiences to be personalized. When you are diagnosed, you’re overwhelmed, and there is so much to think about.”

As examples of disparities in the fight against cancer, ACS lists several statistics: Black men have the highest overall cancer mortality rate, 19 percent higher than white men; Black women have 40 percent higher death rates in breast cancer cases compared to white women despite having lower incidence rates; Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people have liver and stomach cancer rates that are double those in white individuals; Hispanic women experience a cervical cancer incidence that is 35 percent higher than that of white women; and lung and stomach cancer rates in Hispanic persons are double those of white persons.

ACS has an app to help people navigate the treatment process. It is also possible to speak with someone virtually. “We have volunteers within the app, who have conversations with people about their shared experiences and challenges. But we know there are also people who prefer to talk in person, and that’s where this comes in,” said Morris.

The number of students involved depends on the caseload. The pilot program at the hospital will start with a group of five to 15 volunteers, and then expand from there. “In North Carolina, where we are based, we now have about 70 volunteers,” Morris said. “It starts small to make sure it is tailored to program needs.”

Students taking part will be undergraduates selected through an application and interview process. 

“We want to make sure they’re in it for the right reasons, and that they have the dedication and compassion to provide the support that’s needed,” Morris said. “The volunteers will meet with patients in the cancer clinic, and do a social needs assessment to address disparities or barriers that might exist. Then, they will connect them with local, regional, and national resources.”

The existing ACS CARES pilot programs have yielded positive results. “It has been hugely beneficial for the organizations involved, because the students are able to extend the reach which increases that quality of care,” Morris said.