Oncology

A study conducted in Canada to estimate the prevalence of psychotropic and opioid medication use by older women diagnosed with breast cancer found a significant increase in use, especially during the active treatment phase.

A hospital in China has made history by injecting a patient with lung cancer with revolutionary, yet controversial, CRISPR-Cas9—edited T cells. The first patient was injected on October 28.

Amgen and Allergan have announced that they have submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) for ABP 215, a biosimilar to bevacizumab (Avastin).

A new study conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital evaluated the impact of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), along with induction chemotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy, in patients with advanced disease, and observed hints of success.

A prospective trial among breast cancer patients enrolled in The Pathways Study has found that higher levels of vitamin D can lower the risk of breast cancer morbidity and mortality.

A study conducted in Australia has concluded that a person’s inherited risk factors for melanoma should be considered when developing self-examination and surveillance programs.

Will Vice President Joe Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative be able to sustain it's momentum in 2017 following the transition in government?

The FDA today granted approval to the programmed death ligand-1 inhibitor, nivolumab (Opdivo), for treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), following platinum-based treatment.

Breast cancer screening may not improve in early medical home implementation.

According to CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the cigarette smoking rate of adults in the United States has seen a significant drop during the decade from 2005 to 2015.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Ad Hoc Palliative Care Expert Panel has developed specific evidence-based recommendations for access to palliative care services for individuals with advanced cancer and for their family caregivers.

A study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has found that screening for distress tests improves provider confidence and awareness toward person-centered care.

Three of the 4 cities to pass taxes on soda are in Northern California, not far from Berkeley, which passed the nation's first soda tax in 2014.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation has developed a digital tool that can compare coverage of screening tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers across health insurance plans available in a specific state.

With value-based reimbursement now far from its infancy, the chief medical officer for Humana will forecast what’s ahead in payment reform-and how oncology connects with what is happening in primary care, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry. Roy A. Beveridge, MD, will open Patient-Centered Oncology Care, which will meet November 17-18, 2016, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Based on a retrospective meta-analysis of clinical trial data, authors of a recent paper in JAMA Oncology concluded that BRAF/MEK and programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors were the most effective treatments that were relatively safe in melanoma.

A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University has found that second opinions did not change treatment choice among men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer.

Researchers from Canada’s McGill University have developed a potential tool that can detect early signs of cachexia in cancer patients, which could impact survival.

A new study in the Journal of Oncology Practice has found that the health plan requirement of counseling by certified geneticists could have led to patient access issues in oncology.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has announced that it is collaborating with Innovative Oncology Business Solutions, Inc, on ASCO COME HOME.

How can care providers ensure cancer survivors continue to receive adequate follow-up care post treatment?

How can discussions on advance care planning and end-of-life care be successfully broached with patients and their family members?

Panelists discussed how patient-centered care can be valuated in the changing healthcare climate.

Is there anything like an ideal patient portal that can cater to a broad range of patients? According to Rebekkah Schear, MIA, what patient portals lack is a holistic approach toward the patient.

How can we create more standardized health information platforms that can easily exchange patient information?