For Some With Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer, Active Surveillance May Not Be Enough
February 23rd 2015The risk of dying from prostate cancer increased fourfold when active surveillance was used to monitor men with intermediate-risk disease compared with low-risk prostate cancer patients, according to results of a new study, the first to examine long-term outcomes of patients with low- versus intermediate-risk prostate cancer who have been managed with this conservative approach to care.
Ovarian Suppression Emerges as Practice-Changing Option for Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients
February 20th 2015Women with HR-positive breast cancer who remained premenopausal after receiving chemotherapy had a lower risk of disease recurrence when adding ovarian suppression to adjuvant exemestane or-to a lesser extent- tamoxifen compared with standard tamoxifen alone, according to results from the phase III SOFT trial.
Physicians Less Likely to Report Cancer Treatment Toxicities Than Their Patients
February 19th 2015A study involving more than 1000 patients enrolled in randomized clinical trials has found that patient and physician assessment of treatment toxicities can vary greatly, and they are frequently under-reported by physicians.
New Medicare Payment Model to Reward Coordinated, Patient-Centered Cancer Care
February 18th 2015The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new initiative which it hopes will improve the coordination and quality of cancer care for Medicare patients with cancer while also reducing costs.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Associated with Increased Ovarian Cancer Risk
February 17th 2015A new analysis has shown that taking hormone replacement therapy to alleviate symptoms associated with menopause significantly increases the risk of developing the two most common types of ovarian cancer, even if the therapy is only taken for a few years.
Study Finds It's Not Cancer Patients Who Push for Unnecessary Tests and Treatments
February 13th 2015Although some physicians may blame patient demands for the increase in medical costs, a new study has shown that cancer patients rarely push their doctor to run unnecessary tests and treatments.
MMRF Offers Online CE for Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals
February 11th 2015The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation provides educational programs to help people with myeloma, family members, caregivers, and healthcare professionals learn more about the disease and today's most promising treatment options, including clinical trials, from leading multiple myeloma doctors and researchers.
Palbociclib Approval Will Improve Quality of Life for Late-Stage Breast Cancer Patients
February 6th 2015The big difference in progression-free survival seen in pivotal trial data propelled palbociclib to its accelerated FDA approval for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, bringing with it the potential for the drug to quickly become adapted as the new standard of care, Brian Wojciechowski, MD, said.
FDA Approval of Ibrutinib for Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia a First for These Patients
February 4th 2015The recent extended approval of ibrutinib for the treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), the disease's first FDA-approved therapy, has provided new hope for patients with the orphan disease.
Momentum Builds for National Plan for Precision Medicine
January 30th 2015During President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address last week, he announced a nationwide Precision Medicine Initiative that would help cure diseases such as cancer and diabetes. This morning he built on his announcement and outlined a $215 million plan to help develop precision medicine nationwide.
Radiation Therapy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: When Less Is More
January 30th 2015Women diagnosed with early-stage breast disease have a variety of decisions to make regarding their treatment options. For example, some women may be eligible for breast-conserving surgery, which typically includes a lumpectomy followed by radiation.