I’ve just personally encountered a new-to-me health disparity in the lung cancer space. I’m not aware of tools in the healthcare system that can deal with it.

Lung cancer care was confusing and overwhelming for me when I was diagnosed at age 55–and I was willing and able to access my digital medical records, Google standards of care, and connect with online patient groups. Dealing with my medical appointments and side effects took over my family’s life during my first-line treatment. At least I had an available driver who could accommodate clinic visits that ran long, or could reschedule transport on short notice when radiation therapy was cancelled due to equipment glitches.

The average age for a lung cancer diagnosis is around 70. This means many people are more than 80 years old when diagnosed. How does someone who is legally blind from macular degeneration, hard of hearing, and in an assisted living facility navigate lung cancer care when they can’t read information in online portals, or readily follow verbal conversations with healthcare providers? How can they decide which treatment option will best meet their quality of life goals without reviewing accurate information?

If they don’t have a driver at their beck and call and can’t see to use smartphone or computer apps, how do they get to the array of medical appointments with different providers when they must rely on transportation systems for people with disabilities, which require users to schedule pickups at specific times, days in advance?

Asking for a friend.