Researchers Seek to Care for the Whole Patient
In 2012, Patricia Ganz, M.D., saw a 39-year-old cancer survivor for a consultation who had a long-term history of anxiety during medical visits. The woman had been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma when she was 23 years old. Though her treatment was successful, the cancer returned when she was 25. She received high-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and full-dose radiation therapy to the chest. This treatment increased her risk for heart damage and breast cancer.
Immunotherapy’s Skin Side Effects: Are Microbes to Blame?
Drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy that have transformed the treatment of many cancers. But for many patients, these drugs can cause a wide range of side effects, including itching and painful skin rashes. Sometimes, the skin side effects are bad enough that people stop taking the drugs.
Severe Side Effects of Cancer Treatment Are More Common in Women than Men
Women are more likely than men to experience severe side effects from cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, a new study suggests.
Even If Insured, People with Advanced Cancer Often Face Financial Problems
Many people being treated for advanced cancer experience serious financial problems related to the cost of their care, even if they have health insurance, according to a new study.
For Older Adults, Geriatric Assessment Reduces Cancer Treatment Side Effects
For older adults undergoing treatment for advanced cancer, results from a clinical trial show that a health measurement tool called a geriatric assessment can be an important part of treatment planning. In the trial, older patients whose care was guided by a geriatric assessment were much less likely to experience serious side effects.
Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Cancer Research
The Division of Cancer Prevention sponsored a special issue of the JNCI Monographs entitled “Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Cancer Research”. Volume 2021, Issue 58, December 2021.
Experimental Drug Prevents Doxorubicin from Harming the Heart
The chemotherapy drug doxorubicin is used to treat many types of cancer, but some patients who receive the drug develop heart problems. Using new insights into how doxorubicin damages the heart, researchers have identified an experimental drug that may help protect the heart.