Diversity and equity are currently high on the healthcare agenda - however there are still noticeable inconsistencies when it comes to side effect management in cancer care. Maimah Karmo, Founder of Tigerlily Foundation, sits down with oncologists and patient advocates to discuss why having appropriate individualized care is incredibly important for minority populations, with many chemotherapy side effects centred on skin toxicities and hair loss. They ask the questions – are patients of color receiving the same standard of cancer care as Caucasian patients? And what needs to be done to ensure that all patients are provided with equitable and accessible tailored supportive care?

• Equitable side effect management options, including scalp cooling, should be a viable choice for patients of color undergoing chemotherapy
• The lack of clinical research that focuses on patients of color is problematic, particularly as there are doubts around the efficacy of scalp cooling for patients with type 3 & 4 hair, despite positive anecdotal patient experiences
• A lack of appropriate hair care support and guidance from clinicians stems from a lack of education, placing an unnecessary burden onto the patient as a result
• Bias around financial capability means that patients of color are not being offered scalp cooling

Maimah Karmo, Dr. Beth McLellan, Isabel Pupo Wiss, Dr. Oyetewa Oyerinde, Maricia Cole

• Tigerlily Foundation Clinical Trial Program
• Scalp Cooling for Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Patients of Color: A Clinical and Mechanistic Study
• Dilawari A, et al. Does Scalp Cooling Have the Same Efficacy in Black Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer? Oncologist. 2021 Apr;26(4):292-e548.
• Araoye EF, Stearns V, Aguh C. Considerations for the Use of Scalp Cooling Devices in Black Patients. J Clin Oncol. 2020 Oct 20;38(30):3575-3576.