CDC Report Underscores Need for HPV Vaccination
July 15th 2016A decade after the FDA approved the first vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the incidence of HPV-associated cancers is rising, with the number of HPV-associated cancers diagnosed annually between 2008 and 2012 increasing by approximately 16% compared with the previous 5-year period.
Frozen Gloves and Socks May Relieve Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
June 30th 2016Results of a small study exploring the use of frozen gloves and socks in women receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy for their breast cancer suggest the approach may hold promise for the relief of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
Buddy System: Why Dyadic Exercise May Make Sense for Survivors and Caregivers, Too
June 15th 2016Oncology nurses receive a steady stream of information on the benefits of exercise for health and wellness—not just a way to help prevent cancer and lower risk for the general population, but to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of recurrence for patients and survivors.
Wearable Tech: Can It Help Assess Patient Wellbeing Between Office Visits?
June 10th 2016In a small pilot study, presented at the recent 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting, researchers are evaluating whether wearable activity monitors can help clinicians to better assess patient well-being between office visits.
Talking With PA Maureen E. Thyne About Ruxolitinib for Myelofibrosis
May 27th 2016Though there are few therapeutic options for patients with myelofibrosis, ruxolitinib (Jakafi) represents an important look towards the future, according to Maureen E. Thyne, a physician assistant in the Outpatient Leukemia Service at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Video-Based Behavioral Therapy May Ease "Chemobrain" in Breast Cancer Survivors
May 26th 2016Research suggests that 25% to 40% of individuals receiving chemotherapy experience persistent mild to moderate cognitive changes, and a study of breast cancer survivors suggests that a new type of psychotherapy delivered by videoconference may help reduce these effects, often referred to as “chemobrain.”
Oncology Nurses Poised to Make a Difference in Managing "Silent" Portal Vein Thrombosis
April 30th 2016Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a dangerous and often overlooked side effect of certain gastrointestinal malignancies such as liver and pancreatic cancer, that oncology nurses need to be more proactive in managing.
Marriage's Cancer Survival Benefit Is Independent of Income, Study Finds
April 13th 2016Being married may help extend survival among patients with cancer, and the benefit is largely unaffected by economic resources like health insurance, a finding which suggests that clinicians who treat unmarried patients with cancer should ask if there is someone within their social network available to help them physically and emotionally.
Intervention Reduces Emergency Department Visits, Improves Patient Care
February 23rd 2016A telephone triage service combined with patient education has helped to reduce cancer-related emergency department visits by 60% over 4 months, where it was piloted at a Florida health system, and it’s an approach researchers say can be easily replicated by other practices.
Abdominal Radiation May Increase Diabetes Risk in Childhood Cancer Survivors
January 20th 2016Previous studies have linked radiation to the pancreas during childhood to an increased risk of type 1 or 2 diabetes, and in a recent small study, researchers investigated the mechanisms leading to abnormal glucose and insulin dynamics in survivors of childhood cancers.
Personalized Survivorship Care Plans Key for Low-Income Breast Cancer Survivors
January 12th 2016New research has found that low-income breast cancer survivors are more likely to adhere to recommended survivorship care if they receive counseling along with a treatment summary and survivorship care plan (TSSP).
Melanoma Treatments Are Advancing, But Next Steps Remain Unclear
November 20th 2015In this interview to gain further insight into the flurry of FDA activity, Tim Turnham, executive director of the Melanoma Research Foundation, sheds light on the recent drug approvals and what's next for treating melanoma.
XRAYS Aims to Help Patients, Survivors Make Sense of Research News
November 6th 2015For oncology practitioners fielding questions from patients and survivors about breast cancer or genetics research news they've read online or through social media, a recently-launched news and information rating resource hopes to make that process easier.
Many Young Cancer Patients Not Well Aware of Fertility Preservation Options
July 28th 2015Although it is important for clinicians and their patients who are receiving anticancer treatment to discuss patients' fertility preservation options, a new study has found that whether these conversations take place and, importantly, whether ensuing action is taken, depends on a number of factors.