Christina Mattina

Guidelines recommend against screening for cancer in patients with shortened life expectancy, but a recent study revealed older patients may not want to consider their life expectancy when discussing with a clinician whether they should stop undergoing cancer screening.

An update on the latest developments in clinical and healthcare services research in oncology.

The CMS Office of the Actuary released a report projecting the financial and coverage impacts of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the House of Representatives, finding that 13 million more people would be uninsured by 2026 but the federal government would reduce expenditures by $328 billion.

A roundup of the panels and sessions at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's 22nd Annual Conference: Improving the Quality, Effectiveness, and Efficiency of Cancer Care, held March 23-25, 2017, Oralndo, Florida.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has announced its choice of Barbara McAneny, MD, to lead as president-elect, making her the first oncologist to take the reins of the nation’s largest physician organization.

Prior data had indicated that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors could be linked to diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes.

Patients with comorbid depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have low rates of adherence to their COPD management medications, putting them at increased risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

A new study finds that the incidence of cancer in high-income counties has spiked higher than in low-income counties, but the wealthier areas saw their cancer mortality rates decrease more, which could indicate that overdiagnosis is occurring among well-off populations.

A new study estimates that the cooperative research network SWOG, which is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), has considerably impacted the US population over its 60-year history, as its 23 positive clinical trials have generated about 3.34 million life-years gained.

In testimony before the US House Ways and Means Committee’s Health subcommittee, Mark Fendrick, MD, co-director of the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, discussed the importance of allowing for flexibility and clinical nuance when it comes to encouraging value in Medicare Advantage plans.

When the World Health Organization (WHO) updates its Essential Medicines List every 2 years, observers anticipate the addition of some new drugs or alternate indications. The 20th edition, released Tuesday, also includes a more drastic change by categorizing antibiotics.

Researchers and policy makers have recognized the importance of safe and stable housing in achieving better health outcomes, but a new study adds evidence that receiving housing assistance from programs administered by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is associated with expanded healthcare access.

Amid recent efforts to curtail sodium levels in packaged foods to prevent hypertension and heart disease, the amount of sodium in foods and beverages purchased by US households has decreased, according to a new study. However, most Americans are still buying sodium-dense foods, indicating the need for intensified initiatives to lower sodium intake.

According to a recent study, women who live in a highly segregated white community are more likely to receive a late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer.

A new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll delves into Americans’ attitudes about Medicaid: its importance to their family, how it should be funded, and whether it is more similar to health insurance or welfare programs.

Healthcare professionals working in the emergency department may be unaware of the costs of the care they deliver, according to a new study that asked clinicians to guess the cost of 3 hypothetical visits.

The dangers of tobacco to users are well-known, but today the World Health Organization (WHO) is taking advantage of World No Tobacco Day to raise awareness of how tobacco impacts non-users, the environment, and society.

A new study finds that bariatric surgery can have beneficial effects for women beyond just weight loss: it was also associated with lower risk of female-specific cancers, like breast or ovarian cancer.

Patients with peripheral artery disease can now have supervised exercise therapy covered by Medicare, according to a recent announcement by CMS.

Shortly after the FDA announced it would permit the sale of genetic tests to consumers, an editorial contends that these tests will actually contribute to the deluge of low-value, wasteful medical services that the healthcare system should try to eliminate.

Although a report from the Surgeon General has determined that the aerosol vapor from e-cigarettes contains harmful chemicals like nicotine, a survey of US adults indicates that some are skeptical or unsure about the risk posed to children exposed to the vapor.

A new study in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report finds that people with arthritis are more likely to limit their activities due to their symptoms if they live in a rural county, indicating the need to offer targeted interventions to this population.

A new study published in Diabetes Care investigates ways to prevent driving accidents among patients with type 1 diabetes, who may be at higher risk of having such mishaps.

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report evaluating the continued public health response to the Zika virus in the US and detailing the remaining challenges and possible solutions.

In the first weeks of his tenure as FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, MD, is taking action on the issue he had vowed to make his “highest initial priority:” fighting the opioid abuse epidemic and stopping the waves of overdoses across the nation.

A JAMA study has found that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who received noninvasive ventilation in addition to home oxygen therapy went longer without being readmitted to the hospital or dying than those who received only home oxygen therapy.

Although each individual rare cancer affects a small percentage of patients, the collective group of 181 rare cancers is responsible for significant disease burden in the United States.

As the weather heats up, the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women may rise along with the temperature, according to findings from a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Every year, the week beginning with Mother’s Day is designated as National Women’s Health Week, meant to shine a spotlight on the unique health challenges affecting women in America.

The FDA has expanded the approved uses of Kalydeco (ivacaftor), which is used to treat cystic fibrosis, so it can now be used by patients with any of 33 rare gene mutations.