Home Health Encounter

This phase Ib/II trial compares the safety, tolerability and acceptability of intravesical chemotherapy given at home to in-clinic administration in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Chemotherapy drugs, such as bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), gemcitabine, docetaxel, and mitomycin C, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Standard of care chemotherapy for non-invasive bladder cancer is usually given directly into the bladder through a catheter (intravesical). This process requires numerous visits and can be disruptive to the lives of patients and caregivers. Bringing cancer care to the patients with in-home intravesical therapy may help reduce the disruption to daily lives. In-home intravesical chemotherapy may be safe and tolerable and may also be preferable to in-clinic administration in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

This phase II trial compares the impact of subcutaneous (SC) nivolumab given in an in-home setting to an in-clinic setting on cancer care and quality of life. Currently, most drug-related cancer care is conducted in clinic type centers or hospitals which may isolate patients from family, friends and familiar surroundings for many hours per day. This separation adds to the physical, emotional, social, and financial burden for patients and their families. Traveling to and from medical facilities costs time, money, and effort and can be a disadvantage to patients living in rural areas, those with low incomes or poor access to transport. Studies have shown that cancer patients often feel more comfortable and secure being cared for in their own home environments. SC nivolumab in-home treatment may be safe, tolerable and/or effective when compared to in-clinic treatment and may reduce the burden of cancer and improve the quality of life in cancer patients.

This clinical trial studies the effect of cancer directed therapy given at-home versus in the clinic for patients with cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Currently most drug-related cancer care is conducted in infusion centers or specialty hospitals, where patients spend many hours a day isolated from family, friends, and familiar surroundings. This separation adds to the physical, emotional, social, and financial burden for patients and their families. The logistics and costs of navigating cancer treatments have become a principal contributor to patients' reduced quality of life. It is therefore important to reduce the burden of cancer in the lives of patients and their caregivers, and a vital aspect of this involves moving beyond traditional hospital and clinic-based care and evaluate innovative care delivery models with virtual capabilities. Providing cancer treatment at-home, versus in the clinic, may help reduce psychological and financial distress and increase treatment compliance, especially for marginalized patients and communities.