In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Nina Balanchivadze, MD, of Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Virginia Oncology Associates, and Kyle Lavin, MD, MPH, of the UNC School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discussed a study evaluating the integration of virtual collaborative behavioral health care for patients with breast cancer.
Both physicians said depression and anxiety after a cancer diagnosis are major barriers to recovery rather than mere side effects. Mental health challenges often reduce patients’ ability to adhere to treatment regimens and to cope with the transitions of cancer care.
They identified a key gap in current practice: while oncology teams commonly recognize mental health needs, follow-through typically requires referrals to outside systems. Those external services can be hard to access quickly, leaving patients without timely support during vulnerable periods.
The study is testing a virtual collaborative care model embedded within the oncology department rather than operating in a separate, siloed program. The model aims to produce measurable improvements in patient symptoms and daily engagement while avoiding added workload for oncology staff.
Lavin described a long-standing personal commitment to this work rooted in his mother’s experience with comorbid mental and physical health conditions. That lived experience has driven his efforts to integrate behavioral health into palliative and specialty care for two decades.
The research emphasizes community oncology settings, where access to psycho-oncologists and specialized therapists is often limited compared with academic centers. Investigators hope the virtual, integrated approach will expand access to high-quality behavioral health care across locations and improve both patient outcomes and the day-to-day work life of oncologists.
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