Liver cancer is one of the fastest-growing causes of cancer death in the U.S. and in many other parts of the world, says Mark Yarchoan, co-director of the Liver Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic. Since the new liver cancer clinic launched a little more than a year ago, they have seen a more than 500% increase in […]
treatment
New Advances in Therapies: Five-Drug Combo
Posted by | precision medicine, Research, treatmentArnold’s advanced pancreas cancer that had spread to his liver was eliminated with a low-dose, five-drug combination being studied in a clinical trial led by Dung Le. Le is now testing new iterations of the therapy to see if she can help more patients. A new drug cocktail adds immunotherapy and a PARP inhibitor to […]
Radiation Therapy Associated With Worse Outcomes in One Type of Brain Tumor
Posted by | Research, treatmentIn 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 […]
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 […]