Duke Cancer Institute gynecologic oncologist Haley Moss, MD, MBA.
Moss Named Director of VA Breast & GynOnc Cancers Program
Published
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Duke Cancer Institute member Haley Moss, MD, MBA, recently joined the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Oncology Program Office as director of the Breast and Gynecologic Cancer System of Excellence, which aims to advance and expand women Veterans' access to teleoncology and potentially lifesaving clinical trials and treatments.
"In the past two decades, there has been an unprecedented growth of women Veterans seeking medical care through the Veterans Health Administration. In response to the ever-growing population of women Veterans, the National Oncology Program Office through the VHA has developed the Breast and Gynecologic Cancer System of Excellence," said Moss. "We will be establishing partnerships with universities and National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers to promote breast and gynecologic cancer research and increase opportunities for these patients to participate on clinical trials. We will provide care coordination services to patients who may need to go between the VA and other health systems as they navigate their cancer care."
Moss joined DCI as an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2019 following a three-year fellowship with that department. Moss' research "has focused on the interface of women’s health and policies to improve the value of cancer care."
She is also a practicing gynecologic oncologistwho sees patients in clinic at Duke Cancer Center Durham and Duke Women's Cancer Care Raleigh as well as at Duke University Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital.
With the new role, Moss retains her faculty and clinical positions at Duke.
The American Cancer Society released its 2025 statistics publications, offering insights into cancer incidence, mortality, treatment and survival.Rising Cancer Incidence Rates in Younger WomenThis year’s report reveals that for women younger than 50, the risk of developing cancer is 82 percent higher than men, up from 51 percent in 2022. This marks the first time cancer incidence rates in women under 50 have surpassed men.A main contributor to this higher incidence rate is breast cancer, which predominantly affects women. Higher obesity rates, increased alcohol use, and later-in-life pregnancies have long been identified as risk factors for breast cancer; however, there are still lots of unknowns.“I often see women coming into my clinic with breast cancer who ‘did all the right things,’” said Jennifer Plichta, MD, MS, breast surgical oncologist and provider for the Duke Breast Risk Assessment Clinic. “We know some of the risk factors, but I think that we still struggle with how those risk factors come together.”While there are many examples of breast cancer research and prevention efforts for women over 50, younger women are often less involved in those efforts. Plichta said some of the reason for that may have to do with the severity of side effects of breast cancer prevention options – most commonly, surgeries that cause permanent changes to the body and medications that often produce menopausal symptoms and may make it more difficult to conceive.In view of rising incidence rates in younger women, Plichta believes it’s important for providers to clearly communicate with patients to help them really understand their risk factors and make the best choice for themselves. Plichta currently leads the Breast Risk Assessment Clinic, which focuses on understanding breast cancer risk and personalizing management strategies. Additionally, Rani Bansal, MD, a breast medical oncologist, is working on opening a clinic specifically focused on young breast cancer patients.“It’s a real worry that more younger women are getting breast cancer,” she said. “We need to start having conversations with them earlier and more often so they can know what to do.”Improving Survival Rates, Except in Uterine CancersThe incidence and mortality of many cancer types is declining in the U.S., but uterine cancer cases have been increasing by about one percent per year, and even more among non-white women. Andrew Berchuck, MD, director of the DCI gynecologic cancer group, notes this increase is mostly due to high obesity rates.“Obesity causes excessive production of estrogenic hormones that can stimulate growth and cancer development in the uterine lining,” Berchuck said. “Reducing obesity rates is important from a broad health perspective and would also reverse the rise in uterine cancer incidence.”Since 1975, the five-year survival rate for uterine cancer has decreased from 87 percent to 81 percent. It is now the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Additionally, uterine cancer has one of the largest racial disparities in survival – 84 percent in white patients, compared to 63 percent in Black patients.To address these trends, DCI researchers have developed a national uterine cancer consortium looking into molecular features of these cancers to help develop new targeted therapies, led by Angeles Secord, MD, associate director of the DCI gynecologic cancer group. The efforts of the consortium are highlighted at the annual She Dunks on Endometrial Cancer, taking place on Feb. 23 this year.“Duke is helping lead the charge in improving treatment for uterine cancer,” Berchuck said. “We are hopeful that our efforts can lead to better outcomes for our patients in the future.”
The American Cancer Society released its 2025 statistics publications, offering insights into cancer incidence, mortality, treatment and survival.Rising Cancer Incidence Rates in Younger WomenThis year’s report reveals that for women younger than 50, the risk of developing cancer is 82 percent higher than men, up from 51 percent in 2022. This marks the first time cancer incidence rates in women under 50 have surpassed men.A main contributor to this higher incidence rate is breast cancer, which predominantly affects women. Higher obesity rates, increased alcohol use, and later-in-life pregnancies have long been identified as risk factors for breast cancer; however, there are still lots of unknowns.“I often see women coming into my clinic with breast cancer who ‘did all the right things,’” said Jennifer Plichta, MD, MS, breast surgical oncologist and provider for the Duke Breast Risk Assessment Clinic. “We know some of the risk factors, but I think that we still struggle with how those risk factors come together.”While there are many examples of breast cancer research and prevention efforts for women over 50, younger women are often less involved in those efforts. Plichta said some of the reason for that may have to do with the severity of side effects of breast cancer prevention options – most commonly, surgeries that cause permanent changes to the body and medications that often produce menopausal symptoms and may make it more difficult to conceive.In view of rising incidence rates in younger women, Plichta believes it’s important for providers to clearly communicate with patients to help them really understand their risk factors and make the best choice for themselves. Plichta currently leads the Breast Risk Assessment Clinic, which focuses on understanding breast cancer risk and personalizing management strategies. Additionally, Rani Bansal, MD, a breast medical oncologist, is working on opening a clinic specifically focused on young breast cancer patients.“It’s a real worry that more younger women are getting breast cancer,” she said. “We need to start having conversations with them earlier and more often so they can know what to do.”Improving Survival Rates, Except in Uterine CancersThe incidence and mortality of many cancer types is declining in the U.S., but uterine cancer cases have been increasing by about one percent per year, and even more among non-white women. Andrew Berchuck, MD, director of the DCI gynecologic cancer group, notes this increase is mostly due to high obesity rates.“Obesity causes excessive production of estrogenic hormones that can stimulate growth and cancer development in the uterine lining,” Berchuck said. “Reducing obesity rates is important from a broad health perspective and would also reverse the rise in uterine cancer incidence.”Since 1975, the five-year survival rate for uterine cancer has decreased from 87 percent to 81 percent. It is now the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Additionally, uterine cancer has one of the largest racial disparities in survival – 84 percent in white patients, compared to 63 percent in Black patients.To address these trends, DCI researchers have developed a national uterine cancer consortium looking into molecular features of these cancers to help develop new targeted therapies, led by Angeles Secord, MD, associate director of the DCI gynecologic cancer group. The efforts of the consortium are highlighted at the annual She Dunks on Endometrial Cancer, taking place on Feb. 23 this year.“Duke is helping lead the charge in improving treatment for uterine cancer,” Berchuck said. “We are hopeful that our efforts can lead to better outcomes for our patients in the future.”