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Patricia A. Ganz, MD, on Younger Breast Cancer Survivors: Managing Depression
Patricia A. Ganz, MD, of the University of California, Los Angeles, discusses study findings that showed mindfulness meditation and survivorship education may effectively reduce depression and related symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disturbance, which pose serious threats to younger women’s...
Jing Li, MD, PhD, on Brain Metastases: Stereotactic Radiosurgery vs Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy
Jing Li, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses phase III results showing the use of stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with 4 to 15 brain metastases, compared with whole-brain radiotherapy, may better preserve cognitive function and minimize the interruption of ...
Arjun Sahgal, MD, on Reducing the Pain of Spinal Metastases: SBRT vs Palliative Radiotherapy
Arjun Sahgal, MD, of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, discusses results of the first phase III trial to suggest that dose escalation with stereotactic body radiotherapy may be superior to conventional palliative radiotherapy in improving pain outcomes for patients with spinal bone metastases...
Christopher D'Avella, MD, on Utilizing a Specialized Urgent Care Center for Patients With Cancer
Christopher D'Avella, MD, of Fox Chase Cancer Center, discusses the impact of his institution’s oncologic urgent care center, designed to triage patients and prevent hospital admissions. Patients who presented to the direct referral unit had lower health-care expenses vs those who went to the...
Linda D. Bosserman, MD, on Pathways for Personalized Precision Medicine and Value
Linda D. Bosserman, MD, of City of Hope, discusses guidelines vs pathways, how to personalize pathways, integrated diagnostics, supportive care regimens, and financial guidance for patients with cancer.
Patient Perceptions of Management of Cancer-Related Pain, Fatigue, and Emotional Distress in Community Oncology Centers
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Smith et al found that a high proportion of patients in community cancer centers did not report discussing, getting advice, or receiving desired help for cancer-related pain, fatigue, or emotional distress. The study involved surveys of...
Michelle B. Riba, MD, on Screening for Distress in Cancer: Implementing the Standard of Care
Michelle B. Riba, MD, of the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, discusses the prevalence of distress in patients with cancer, the need for a quick and simple screening method to identify patients with distress, and strategies for improving integration of psychosocial care into routine...
Matthew J. Loscalzo, LCSW, on The Effects of Gender on Patients’ Coping Strategies and Stress Management
Matthew J. Loscalzo, LCSW, of the City of Hope, discusses the ways in which a person’s gender influences how he or she reacts to and copes with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
FDA Approves Caplacizumab-yhdp for Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved caplacizumab-yhdp (Cablivi) injection, the first therapy specifically indicated, in combination with plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapy, for the treatment of adult patients with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP), a...
Eric Roeland, MD, on Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Vomiting
Eric Roeland, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the wide variation among physicians in preventing vomiting from highly emetogenic chemotherapy (Abstract 74).
Mihir M. Kamdar, MD, on Managing Cancer-Related Pain With Artificial Intelligence
Mihir M. Kamdar, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses study findings on a smartphone app called ePAL, which significantly reduces pain and pain-related hospital admissions by combining patient-reported outcome data and artificial intelligence via a telemedicine platform (Abstract 76).
Jeremy Warner, MD, on Patient Navigation: Weathering the Storm of Cancer Care
Jeremy Warner, MD, of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, discusses the ways in which patient navigators affect cancer care and how patients benefit.
CALM Psychotherapeutic Intervention Reduces Depression in Patients With Advanced Cancer
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Rodin et al found that a manualized psychotherapeutic intervention (Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully, CALM) was successful in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with advanced cancer. CALM is novel, brief, tailored...
Prognostic Model for Malignant Pleural Effusion
As reported in The Lancet Oncology, Psallidas et al developed a model that is predictive of 3-month survival in patients with malignant pleural effusion. Study Details The PROMISE study involved an analysis of 5 independent data sets from randomized trials to discover, validate, and prospectively ...
Christopher J. Recklitis, PhD, MPH, on Sexual Aids and Supportive Care: Study Findings
Christopher J. Recklitis, PhD, MPH, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses a study investigating the availability of supportive care sexual aids and resources for cancer survivors at U.S. cancer centers (Abstract 134).
ASCO and NCCN Provide Guidelines for Managing Immunotherapy Side Effects
Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors is the first of a new generation of immunotherapy treatments, revolutionizing treatment for many different types of cancer. By unleashing the body's immune system to attack cancer, these treatments can send even the most hard-to-treat cancers into...
Predictors of Posthospital Care Transitions in Advanced Cancer
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lage and colleagues found that among patients with advanced cancer who had an unplanned hospital admission, those discharged to hospice or post–acute care facilities had a worse symptom burden and physical function and worse survival...
Abby R. Rosenberg, MD, on Promoting Resilience in Young Cancer Patients: Results From the PRISM Trial
Abby R. Rosenberg, MD, of Seattle Children’s Hospital, discusses study findings on a skills-based intervention that helped teens and young adults with cancer manage stress to improve their quality of life and reduce distress (Abstract 176).
Sperm Banking for Adolescent Males With Newly Diagnosed Cancer
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Klosky et al identified factors associated with sperm banking among adolescent males with newly diagnosed cancer who were at increased risk for treatment-related fertility loss. The study included 146 adolescents aged 13 to 22 years (mean...
Tibetan Yoga Practice May Improve Sleep Quality for Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy
Participating in twice-weekly practice of Tibetan yoga may reduce sleep disturbances and improve sleep quality in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, according to a study published by Chaoul et al in Cancer. The study, led by researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer...
ESMO 2017: Patients May Feel Psychosocial Impact of Chemotherapy More Acutely Than Physical Side Effects
The preliminary results of a study presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress in Madrid show that sociopsychological factors have become more significant for patients today than physical side effects such as nausea and vomiting, which were among the top concerns in...
FDA Expands Ibrutinib Indications to Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease
On August 2, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ibrutinib (Imbruvica) for the treatment of adult patients with chronic graft-vs-host disease after failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy. This is the first FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of chronic...
New ASCO Recommendations for Controlling Nausea and Vomiting Related to Cancer Treatment
An update of the ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline covers new medicines for nausea and vomiting related to cancer treatment. The update, issued by Hesketh et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology today, provides new evidence-based information on the appropriate use of olanzapine, neurokinin 1...
Appropriate Distress Screening and Follow-up Leads to Fewer ER Visits and Hospitalizations in Patients With Cancer
Following a cancer diagnosis, all patients experience some level of distress—regardless of disease stage. When severe and left untreated, distress can have a significant impact on health outcomes, lead to greater mortality and morbidity, affect immune function, and result in higher...
Jane McNeil Beith, MD, PhD, on Reducing Fear in Cancer Survivors
Jane McNeil Beith, MD, PhD, of Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, discusses long-term study results on a psychological intervention, called “Conquer Fear,” designed to reduce clinical levels of fear of cancer recurrence in breast, colorectal, and melanoma cancer survivors. (Abstract LBA10000)
Viviane Hess, MD, on Managing Stress in Newly Diagnosed Patients
Viviane Hess, MD, of the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, discusses a Web-based stress management tool, called STREAM, designed to reduce stress and improve quality of life for newly diagnosed cancer patients, who often lack psychological support. (Abstract LBA10002)
Gary Rodin, MD, on Advanced Cancer: The CALM Psychological Intervention
Gary Rodin, MD, of the University of Toronto, discusses study findings on a systematic approach to alleviating distress and managing predictable challenges. (Abstract LBA10001)
ASCO 2017: Conquer Fear Intervention Lowers Young Breast Cancer Survivors’ Fear of Cancer Recurrence
About 50% of all cancer survivors and 70% of young breast cancer survivors report a moderate to high fear of recurrence. The fear can be so distressing that it negatively affects medical follow-up behavior, mood, relationships, work, goal setting, and quality of life. Yet interventions to alleviate ...
ASCO 2017: CALM Intervention Relieves Distress in Patients With Advanced Cancer
Advanced cancer triggers enormous distress and brings challenges that can seem overwhelming. Yet most cancer centers lack systematic approaches to help patients and families manage the practical and emotional toll of advanced cancer. Findings from a randomized clinical trial of 305 patients with...
Are Oncologists Discussing Exercise With Patients?
It is well documented that physical activity benefits patients with cancer, both during and after treatment. Exercise helps patients combat both the physical and psychological impacts of cancer treatment, giving them a sense of well-being, control, stress reduction, and empowerment. However,...
Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Evidence-Based Use of Integrative Therapies During and After Breast Cancer Treatment
In newly updated clinical guidelines from the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, along with an interdisciplinary team of colleagues at The University of Texas MD Anderson...
New Supportive Care Resources From NCCN Help Patients With Cancer Confront Distress
All patients with cancer experience some level of distress associated with their cancer diagnosis and the effects of the disease and its treatment—regardless of the stage of disease. Not only does distress affect a patient’s mental and psychosocial well-being, but because distress is a...
ASCO Quality Care 2017: Mental Health Conditions Contribute to Care-Related Costs, Hospital Visits in Breast and Prostate Cancers
A new analysis of data from the U.S. Military Health System found that mood and adjustment disorders such as anxiety and depression were strong predictors of the annual number of outpatient visits, hospital admissions, and number of days in the hospital for patients with breast and prostate...
ASH 2016: Preventative Antibiotics Could Prevent Clostridium difficile Among Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
It may be possible to safely prevent one of the most common—and costly to treat—infections contracted by hospitalized patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of blood cancers, according to a study from the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of...
Distress Screening in Oncology Leads to Better Doctor-Patient Relationships and Improved Outcomes
As many as 60% of patients with cancer report distress following a cancer diagnosis, and this stress can have a significant impact on patients’ well-being, resulting in psychosocial problems, physical side effects, and dissatisfaction with their health care. To examine the impact of distress ...
Sexual Pain Experienced by Women After Cancer Is Common and May Be Ignored
Painful sex in women after cancer treatment is relatively common, often treatable, and needs to be addressed by medical providers, a University of California (UC), Davis, oncologist and researcher suggests. Vanessa Kennedy, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at UC Davis Health System, said that with...
Palliative Care 2016: Inpatient Palliative Care in Patients Hospitalized for HSCT
During hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), patients sometimes experience physical and psychological symptoms that negatively impact their quality of life. Researchers led by Areej El-Jawahri, MD, Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Bone Marrow Transplant...
Randy L. Wei, MD, PhD, on Radiation Oncologists and Palliative Care
Randy L. Wei, MD, PhD, of the University of California, Irvine, discusses findings from a survey that focused on ASTRO members who assessed their ability to deliver palliative and supportive care, and their access to continuing medical education on the topic (Abstract 105).
Eileen Danaher Hacker, PhD, APN, AOCN: After Stem Cell Transplant: Enhancing Recovery With Strength Training
Eileen Danaher Hacker, PhD, APN, AOCN, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, discusses study findings that show improvement in physical activity, fatigue, muscle strength, and functional ability (Abstract 190).
Areej El-Jawahri, MD, on Hematologic Malignancies: Integrating Palliative Care in Treatment
Areej El-Jawahri, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses ways in which palliative care can reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, reduce depression and anxiety, and potentially optimize end-of-life care for patients with hematologic malignancies.
Eduardo Bruera, MD, on Managing Opioid Use in Patients With a History of Addiction
Eduardo Bruera, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the need for outpatient palliative care programs to monitor and support these complex patients and their family members.
FDA Approves Extended-Release Granisetron Injection for the Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Heron Therapeutics, Inc, announced on August 10, 2016, that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved granisetron (Sustol) extended-release injection. Granisetron is a serotonin-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist indicated in combination with other antiemetics in adults for the prevention ...
Olanzapine Combination Reduces Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Receiving Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy
In a phase III trial reported by Navari et al in The New England Journal of Medicine, the addition of the antipsychotic agent olanzapine vs placebo to dexamethasone, aprepitant, or fosaprepitant, and a 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3–receptor antagonist reduced nausea and improved antiemetic...
Impact of Systemic Inflammation on Quality of Life in Advanced Cancer
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Laird et al found that increased systemic inflammation was associated with poorer patient-reported quality of life independent of performance status. Study Details The study involved data from 2,520 adult patients in a biobank of patients...
Study Finds Many Terminal Patients Unaware of Their Impending Death
A sizable portion of patients with advanced cancer lack an understanding of their prognosis and impending death, according to a study by Epstein et al. However, those patients who had recent discussions of prognosis/life expectancy with their oncologists had a better understanding of the terminal...
Family-Focused Therapy Continued Into Bereavement Benefits High-Risk Families
Family-focused grief therapy continued into bereavement reduced the severity of complicated grief and the risk of prolonged grief disorder among high-risk families of dying cancer patients, according to a report by Kissane et in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Study Details In the trial,...
Cancer and Fertility Program Improves Patient Satisfaction With Information on Fertility Risks and Preservation
A cancer and fertility program established at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) improves patient satisfaction with information received regarding fertility risks and preservation options, according to a report by Kelvin et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Designed to support...
Epoetin Alfa vs Best Standard of Care in Treatment of Anemia in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy
Use of epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit) vs best standard of care to treat anemia did not achieve noninferiority for investigator-assessed progression-free survival in patients receiving chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, reported Leyland-Jones et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology....
Study Finds Many Patients With Breast Cancer Develop Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Symptoms Diminished Over 1 Year
According to a study led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) researchers, a majority of patients diagnosed with breast cancer go on to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and in most of these cases, symptoms persist for at least a year. These findings were published by Voigt et ...
Fosaprepitant Combination Reduces Risk of Emesis During Chemoradiotherapy for Cervical Cancer
The addition of fosaprepitant (Emend) to palonosetron and dexamethasone reduced the risk of emesis during 5 weeks of chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer, according to the phase III GAND-emesis trial reported in The Lancet Oncology by Ruhlmann et al. Study Details In the double-blind trial, 234...
