Exercise Reduces Risk, but Benefits Disappear if Women Stop Exercising
September 24th 2014Many studies have found a link between regular exercise and a lower risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer or breast cancer coming back (recurrence). As a result, the American Cancer Society and many doctors recommend that women who've been diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as those who haven't, exercise regularly – about 4 to 5 hours per week at a moderate intensity level. (Brisk walking is considered moderate intensity exercise.)
Axillary Dissection: No survival advantage seen for older women
September 22nd 2014To address the question of whether axillary dissection is necessary in older women, researchers in Milan, Italy recruited 238 women aged 65-80 years with cT1cN0 breast cancer and randomized them to receive conservative surgery with or without axillary node dissection.
A Spoonful of Honey? New Findings Shed Light on Its Role in Relieving Esophagitis Pain
September 19th 2014New patient-reported data presented at the 2014 ASTRO Annual Meeting has shown that Manuka honey is not more effective than standard medical care for the treatment of esophagitis pain during radiation therapy.
Analysis Provides Reassurance on Radiation's Impact on Lymphedema Risk
September 18th 2014A new analysis of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B-32 trial presented at the ASTRO 56th Annual Meeting offers substantial evidence that treatment with radiation therapy does not increase the incidence of lymphedema in patients with node-negative breast cancer.
For Men With Prostate Cancer, Vessel-Sparing Radiation Can Preserve Sexual Function
September 17th 2014With the use of MRI imaging to restrict doses to erectile tissues, nearly half of men treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer were able to be sexually active without aids or medications 5 years later, and nearly 80% could be sexually active if such support was an option
Cancer Hope Network Offers Resources to Patients Seeking Advice on Clinical Trial Enrollment
September 16th 2014That support is provided by matching people diagnosed with cancer and/or family members with trained volunteers who have themselves undergone and recovered from a similar cancer experience.
Financial Toxicity: Time to start grading the financial burden of care?
September 15th 2014In an "Art of Oncology" column in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Nandita Khera, MBBS, MPH from the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, AZ, proposes that financial toxicity is an important effect of cancer treatment that can be as devastating as other adverse medical events.
Multimillion Dollar Research Program Will Study Oncology Nurse Exposure to Hazardous Drugs
September 9th 2014Underscoring the need to raise awareness among oncology nurses of the importance of adhering to safety precautions when administering chemotherapy and other hazardous drugs, the NIOSH has awarded a $2.3 million research grant to identify exposure risks and promote strategies to combat them.
Clinicians Need More Time, Training to Provide Optimum End-of-Life Care
September 8th 2014A new study is shedding light on the need for cancer centers to invest more in palliative care services, adequate rooms for dying patients, staff training in end-of-life care, and advanced care–planning standards.
Goserelin When Combined With Chemotherapy a Safe Option to Protect Fertility
September 5th 2014Women who received the hormone suppressor goserelin (Zoladex) along with their chemotherapy were significantly less likely to develop premature ovarian failure and were more likely to have successful pregnancies, than women who received chemotherapy alone, according to findings from the federally funded phase III S0230/POEMS clinical trial.
FDA Approval of Pembrolizumab Brings New Hope in Melanoma
September 5th 2014The FDA has approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the treatment of advanced melanoma, making it the first PD-1 inhibitor to receive approval in the United States and marking yet another milestone breakthrough for patients who once had little hope of surviving this disease.
Evidence-Based Information Should Guide Prophylactic Mastectomy Decisions
September 4th 2014One of the first studies to prospectively examine women's breast surgery preferences has revealed that newly diagnosed women with breast cancer who decide to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) aren't relying on evidence-based information, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary patient education and communication.
"Angelina Jolie Effect" Draws Attention to Genetic Counselor Model
September 3rd 2014With more and more data supporting the association between actress Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy and an increase in the amount of patients seeking genetic testing, the attention is on genetic counselors to improve their intake model to more efficiently handle the increased demand.