Survivorship & Supportive Care - Cancer Currents Blog
News on research that affect cancer patients and survivors. Topics include managing treatment side effects, fertility preservation, and cancer’s long-term effects.
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Financial Navigation Can Reduce the Financial Toxicity of Cancer CareThe high cost of cancer care can cause added distress and life disruptions for patients as well as their loved ones. Researchers at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center found that a financial navigation program saved patients and their loved ones an average of about $2,500 each.
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Study Finds Disparities in Access to Opioids for Cancer Pain at End of LifeBlack and Hispanic patients nearing the end of life are less likely than White patients to get opioids needed to control their cancer pain, a new study shows. Black patients were also more likely than White patients to undergo urine tests that screen for drugs.
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Pausing Long-Term Breast Cancer Therapy to Become Pregnant Appears to Be SafeMany young women who are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer want to become pregnant in the future. New research suggests that these women may be able to pause their hormone therapy for up to 2 years as they try to get pregnant without raising the risk of a recurrence in the short term.
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COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe for People Receiving Cancer Immunotherapy, Study ConfirmsmRNA COVID-19 vaccines did not increase the type, frequency, or severity of immune-related side effects among people taking immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat cancer, a study at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found. CDC and other medical groups generally recommend that people with cancer receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
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Preventing Chemo Brain? Study Identifies Potential Approach for Common ProblemCisplatin raises levels of a fat molecule called S1P in areas of the brain responsible for memory and information processing, a new study shows. S1P locks onto a protein on the surface of brain cells called S1PR1. In mice given cisplatin, drugs that block S1PR1 prevented cognitive problems.
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For People with Cancer, Are Steroids the Best Treatment for Breathing Problems?Results from a large NCI-funded clinical trial show that steroids were no more effective than a placebo for treating breathing problems in people with advanced cancer. And people treated with steroids were more likely to have serious side effects.
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Sodium Thiosulfate Approved to Reduce Chemo-Related Hearing Loss in Children with CancerThe chemotherapy cisplatin often causes permanent hearing loss. Sodium thiosulfate (Pedmark) is the first treatment approved by FDA that can reduce the risk of hearing loss and the severity of damage to the inner ear in children treated with cisplatin.
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Aided by Community Health Workers, People with Advanced Cancer Need Fewer Hospital VisitsRegular visits and calls from community health workers showed many benefits for those with advanced cancers, from greater use of palliative care to improved quality of life, a new study has shown.
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Meeting Cancer Survivors' Psychosocial Health Needs: A Conversation with Dr. Patricia GanzAbout 25% of cancer survivors have persistent anxiety, depression, or other psychological and social (psychosocial) distress. In this interview, Dr. Patricia Ganz discusses psychosocial distress and the challenges and opportunities in this area.
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Identifying Safer Ways to Look for Recurrence after Testicular Cancer SurgeryAfter surgery for early-stage, low-risk testicular cancer, it’s safe to monitor for a recurrence using MRI scans or fewer CT scans than are currently used, according to results from a large clinical trial.
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Severe Side Effects of Cancer Treatment Are More Common in Women than MenWomen are more likely than men to experience severe side effects from cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, a new study finds. Researchers hope the findings will increase awareness of the problem and help guide patient care.
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Good News and Cautions about Pregnancy for Childhood Cancer SurvivorsAs adults, survivors of childhood cancer aren’t any less likely to have healthy babies than those without a history of cancer, a new study shows. However, they may have more health risks during pregnancy, warranting more intensive obstetric care.
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Can Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Be Prevented?Removing immune cells called naive T cells from donated stem cells before they are transplanted may prevent chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in people with leukemia, a new study reports. The procedure did not appear to increase the likelihood of patients’ cancer returning.
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Even If Insured, People with Advanced Cancer Often Face Financial ProblemsFinancial hardship caused by cancer care was common and occurred early in treatment, even for patients with insurance, a recent study found. The investigators believe financial hardship should be addressed like any other complication of cancer care.
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For Older Adults, Geriatric Assessment Reduces Cancer Treatment Side EffectsFor older adults with advanced cancer, a geriatric assessment can help direct their treatment, a new study shows. In the study, patients whose care was guided by a geriatric assessment experienced fewer serious side effects and falls in their homes.
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From Scan to Scan: The Challenges of Living with Metastatic CancerNew treatments are helping more people with advanced or metastatic cancer live longer. At a recent NCI conference, survivors and researchers came together to discuss how to better address the needs of those living with metastatic cancer.
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Breast Cancer Surgery Choice May Affect Young Survivors’ Quality of LifeWomen with early-stage breast cancer who had one or both breasts surgically removed (a unilateral or bilateral mastectomy) had lower scores on a quality-of-life survey than women who had breast-conserving surgery, a new study has found.
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Quitting Smoking Improves Survival in People with Lung CancerQuitting smoking after a diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer may help people live longer, a new study finds. The study, which included more than 500 patients, also found that quitting smoking delayed the cancer from returning or getting worse.
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Physical Activity May Lessen the Effects of Chemo Brain, Study FindsFor women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, meeting the national physical activity guidelines may help alleviate cognitive issues, a new study suggests. The benefits may be even greater for patients who were physically active before treatment.
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Opioid Use Drops among Cancer Patients at End of LifeAccording to a new study, among people with cancer in the last month of their lives, filled prescriptions for opioids to control pain have dropped and emergency room visits for pain have increased dramatically.