In a research study published online June 24 in the journal Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, the research team found that routine radiation treatment after surgery for a rare and slow-growing type of brain tumor called pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, or PXAs, was associated with markedly worse overall survival. The researchers reviewed 550 PXA patients from the National […]
treatment
Immune Cells Hampered When Fighting Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas
Posted by | Issues & Perspectives, treatmentResearchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center are studying the immune system to find what does and doesn't work to better fight soft tissue & bone cancer. “The basis of successful immunotherapy lies in the ability of the immune system to recognize cancer as foreign and attack, and is dependent on genetics, host and […]
Great News for Lung Cancer Patients
Posted by | Issues & Perspectives, precision medicine, Prevention/Screening, Research, Survivorship, treatmentEach year, the American Cancer Society publishes data that gives a review of cancer statistics with foundational data that tells us about new cases in the U.S. and details on incidence and survival statistics state by state, overall and by cancer type. The latest report, which made headlines for a historic drop in cancer deaths, […]
Cancer Treatment Without Hair Loss
Posted by | precision medicine, Research, Survivorship, treatmentOne evening several years ago, MiKaela Olsen, D.N.P., sat on her porch with a neighbor and spoke firmly and frankly to her as both a friend and a professional. Olsen, a Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center clinical nurse specialist, was concerned. The neighbor, a mother of two young children, had breast cancer and was strongly […]
Leading the Gene Team
Posted by | precision medicine, Research, treatmentNew faculty member directs tumor board that matches drugs with patients’ genetic targets At its core, precision medicine’s focus on finding the right treatment for the right patient at the right time is about harnessing the power of each individual’s tumor genetic information. The unique anomalies buried in each patient’s tumor are particularly important in […]
Giving Patients Better Results With Fewer Treatments
Posted by | precision medicine, Research, Survivorship, treatmentAs our knowledge of breast cancer has grown, so have the number of therapy modalities and protocols used to treat this disease, from combinations of chemotherapy to targeted treatments that attack malignant cells carrying specific genetic variations. Overall, these developments have been positive, offering patients more and better options to fight their cancers, says breast […]
Helping Patients Stay on Hormone-Blockers? There’s an App for That
Posted by | precision medicine, Research, Survivorship, treatmentOf the more than 300,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the U.S. every year, about two-thirds are hormone receptor-positive, meaning a patient’s cancer is fueled by estrogen. That’s made hormone-blocking drugs a powerful weapon against this disease. However, explains breast cancer expert Karen Smith, M.D., these drugs can have significant side effects—some so uncomfortable […]
A Model for Breast Cancer Care and Wellness
Posted by | precision medicine, Research, treatmentNew Clinical Director for Under Armour Breast Health Innovation Center is working to make care more efficient for patients Early in Mary Wilkinson’s training, she was drawn to medical oncology because of the special relationships doctors in this specialty have with patients. Instead of patients passing quickly through her care, she formed long-term relationships with […]
Pancreatic Cancer Matters: Right Treatment at the Right Time
Posted by | Issues & Perspectives, pancreatic cancer, precision medicine, Research, treatmentOur collaborative team of scientists, physicians and allied health workers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center specialize in translating science learned in the laboratory into exceptional clinical care. The Skip Viragh Center for Pancreas Cancer Clinical Research and Patient Care is a world leader in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer, leading all […]
The Future of Pancreatic Cancer Treatments
Posted by | Issues & Perspectives, pancreatic cancer, Prevention/Screening, Research, treatmentJust eight percent of people with pancreatic cancer live for five years after their diagnosis. Why is this cancer so deadly and where are advances in treatment headed? Elizabeth Jaffee, M.D., deputy director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, describes explains in a 2018 interview on WYPR. http://www.wypr.org/post/why-pancreatic-cancer-so-deadly