For Average Women, Mammograms Should Start at Age 50, Recommends USPSTF
January 12th 2016Using an individualized approach to decide whether asymptomatic women under age 50 should have mammograms is at the center of the final screening guidelines published by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), but the group
After Doughnut Hole Closure, Oral Anticancer Drug Costs Still Too High for Many
January 7th 2016Studies show that cost is a factor in patient adherence to their oral anticancer medications, but the financial burden of oral chemotherapy drugs is projected to still be too high for millions of patients even when the Medicare Part D coverage gap, or “doughnut hole,†is fully closed.
APOS Endorses Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families
January 7th 2016The American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) has endorsed the "Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families" published in a December 2015 special supplement of Pediatric Blood and Cancer.
Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease ... Friend or Foe?
January 7th 2016At a recent meeting, some of the most preeminent physicians and researchers shed light on the all-too-familiar and intricate topic of chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) in the allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplant (HCT) patient population.
Regular Aspirin May Lower Risk of Lethal Prostate Cancer
January 5th 2016For undiagnosed men who took regular aspirin their risk of developing a lethal form of prostate cancer was reduced by 24%, and among those already diagnosed with the disease, regular aspirin use lowered their risk of dying from it by 39%.
Breast-Conserving Therapy Yields Better Survival in Early-Stage Cancer
December 31st 2015Women with early-stage breast cancer who were treated with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and radiation had improved survival after 10 years compared with those who had a mastectomy without radiation, according to research findings presented recently at the 2015 SABCS.
Non-Alcoholic Docetaxel Injection Gains FDA Approval
December 29th 2015The non-alcohol formulation of docetaxel (Docetaxel Injection) has been approved by the FDA as treatment for patients with breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), prostate cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and head and neck cancer.
Patient-Reported Symptoms May Improve Outcomes in Cancer Care
December 29th 2015Patients who self-reported their symptoms using a web-based system while undergoing chemotherapy had better health-related quality of life, fewer emergency room (ER) visits, remained on treatment longer, and survived longer than patients who received usual care.
Experts Issue New Guideline for Breast Cancer Survivor Care
December 28th 2015Practitioners awaiting guidelines for the optimum support of breast cancer survivors now have a resource to turn to with the release of a new clinical oncology breast cancer survivorship care guideline, a collaborative effort of ASCO and ACS.
Hormone Therapy May Boost Survival in Ovarian Cancer
December 23rd 2015For patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, adjuvant hormone therapy (AHT) proved to be safe and reduced the risk of death by 37%, according to findings of a 24-year study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Changing the Face of Lung Cancer in Kentucky: New Program May Serve as National Model
December 23rd 2015Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality, killing more Americans than breast, colon, and prostate cancer combined—and Kentucky is the epicenter of lung cancer in the United States.
Early Trial Yields Promising Data for Pemrolizumab in Breast Cancer
December 14th 2015The immunotherapy pembrolizumab (Keytruda) demonstrated on overall response rate (ORR) of 12% in patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer in the phase 1b KEYNOTE-028 trial, marking the second early-stage trial to show antitumor activity with this agent in breast cancer.