This summer has been a challenge after a family member with celiac disease had a gluten exposure (Click here to read more about celiac disease). Gluten damages the small intestine villi (see 5 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Your Small Intestines), which are essential for nutrition absorption. For over a month, gastrointestinal pain, vomiting...
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Last summer we provided a series of posts on oncology basics. Oncology Basics: Preparing for ASCO covered some of the history of oncology. In Understanding Cells, we reviewed what is newly understood about cells–it’s way beyond what you learned in high school biology. DNA with lots of animated videos also explained some of the basics...
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In a nutshell This study looked at whether smoking status could be used to predict treatment success for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The authors concluded that immunotherapy could be beneficial to patients with a history of smoking. Some background Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that activates the immune...
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In a nutshell This phase 2 clinical trial will test the effectiveness of ceritinib (Zykadia) treatment, in treating ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastases and/or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. The primary outcome will be measured by the disease response to treatment. The details Some lung cancers are associated...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This phase 2 clinical trial will test the effectiveness of FLT3 ligand immunotherapy in combination with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The main outcome of this trial will be measured as the time to disease progression. This study is being conducted in New York City. The details...
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In April, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) held a free education event on cancer called Progress and Promise Against Cancer in Washington, D.C. Surrounded by experts in cancer research, Kim Hall Jackson shared her patient story. One evening in 2008, Jackson, an event planner, was running the mayor’s inaugural event in...
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In July 2015, we published a post called Patients Included In Research: Studying Cancer by Mutation Not Organ. In that post, we shared the goal that cancers would be treated not by the site of origin, but rather by their genetic features. Achieving this goal is closer than you think! This week the FDA announced accelerated approval** of a...
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We are adding to the list of respite opportunities that are available for adults with cancer. In addition to a couple of programs like the ones featured in Free Vacations for Adults affected by Cancer, there are a few foundations for adults with cancer that are much like the well-known Make-A-Wish Foundation (for children) which provide support for...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors examined the long-term effects of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) in treating patients with stage 1 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They concluded that SABR is both safe and effective in the long-term. Some background SABR is a type of radiation used to treat inoperable early stage NSCLC. Studies have shown...
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In a nutshell This trial examined the effectiveness and safety of osimertinib (Tagrisso) for treating patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancers that harbor T790M mutations. The authors concluded that the drug is promising in both safety and effectiveness at treating this type of cancer. Some background Non-small cell lung cancers...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This phase III trial aims to determine whether nivolumab (Opdivo) is effective at treating recurrent stage IV squamous cell lung cancer alone or in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy). The main outcomes of the trial will be overall survival (time from beginning trial until death), progression free survival (time from beginning trial...
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How do you know if precision medicine is the correct path for treatment of your lung cancer? Dr. Fiona Blackhall, an MD and PhD, is the Honorary Consultant Medical Oncologist with the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, UK. Dr. Blackhall has dedicated her life to understanding cancer’s genetic markers and shares her opinion...
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