Oncology

The report found higher death rates from liver cancer among the age group most at risk for hepatitis C virus, those born between 1945 and 1965. But increased rates of diabetes, obesity, and alcohol use are to blame for rising liver cancer deaths as well.

A study conducted in Denmark identified an inverse association between controlling diabetes, through diet or oral medications, and breast density.

CMS has announced its plans to evaluate a new value-based payment model for prescription drugs covered under the Part B program. This is yet another move by the federal body to ensure quality care for Medicare enrollees.

Based on their survey results, the authors conclude that clinician communication following detection of pulmonary nodules can help bridge knowledge gaps and relieve stress.

21st Century Oncology has informed patients that their patient database was compromised late last year.

Results of the study in JAMA underscore the importance of advance care planning.

Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have sent a letter to the FDA urging the regulatory body to find efficient ways to distribute expensive cancer drugs.

Panelists discussing quality metrics in oncology were not sure payment and federal policies could keep pace with what's happening on the front lines.

CMS has attempted to tailor ACOs to meet a variety of needs and levels of risk, depending on where parties are in their knowledge level of payment reform.

By monitoring for mutations in the circulating tumor DNA of melanoma patients undergoing treatment, researchers at Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute are confident they can predict how patients will respond to their treatment and whether their disease would relapse.

Yousuf Zafar, MD, MHS, found that most cancer patients would like to discuss financial concerns with their doctors, but few actually do, for a variety of reasons.

Flatiron Health seeks to use data to prevent the patient experience from being lost.

The pharmacy benefit manager may be the "new sheriff in town" in an era of rising costs.

The top managed care stories this week include a cost-sharing roundtable, an AARP study on rising drug prices for seniors, research on waste in cancer drugs, and HHS released new rules for the health insurance marketplaces.

Just 2 days after being rejected by cost regulators in the UK, ibrutinib has been approved for the frontline treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the United States.

To discuss the challenges with the implementation of value tools, the Association of Community Cancer Centers invited a panel of experts during its 42nd annual meeting on policy, value, and quality in Washington, DC.

Choosing a therapy with fewer side effects can increase efficacy because patients stick with it, said Stacey McCullough, PharmD, of Tennessee Oncology.

Immunotherapy represents the "next frontier" in cancer care, according to Joseph Alvarnas, MD, of City of Hope, who is editor-in-chief of Evidence-Based Oncology.

After being diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, Jack Whelan has used his electronic connections to be more involved in his care.

The is a wide variation across the country between hospitals using costly positron emission tomography scans for follow-up care for survivors of lung and esophageal cancers.

At Cancerscape, the Association of Community Cancer Center’s 42nd annual meeting on policy, value, and quality, Kavita Patel, MD, MS, spoke about the clinical imperatives of personalized medicine and the demonstration of value to all stakeholders.

Broad treatment guidelines may be based on relatively narrow trial data.

Oncologists now face a cost discussion that was not part of their medical training. It's a balancing act between the big picture of understanding the burdens on the system and "the patient in front of you."

Keynote speaker Dr Julie Vose said the oncologist faces many administrative burdens in the transition to value-based care. Solving them is essential to spending more time with the patient.

Two studies presented at the recently concluded 2016 Quality Care Symposium, hosted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, proved that hospital-based palliative care programs achieve their proposed objectives.