In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effectiveness of combination therapy with dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) on health-related quality of life in advanced melanoma patients. The authors found out that the combination therapy prolonged survival and decreased treatment-related adverse events. Some background...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effect of combination treatment of nivolumab (Opdivo) and a type of radiation therapy for the treatment of melanoma spread to the brain. The authors found out that this radiation therapy was well tolerated and produced better survival in melanoma patients who also received nivolumab. Some background In...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effectiveness of administering melphalan (Alkeran) and TNF (a protein involved in inflammation process) by ‘isolated limb perfusion (ILP)’- a technique to apply drugs at the sites of tumors in melanoma. They found out that ILP with melphalan and TNF was effective in relieving pain in advanced...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effect of nivolumab (Opdivo) or ipilimumab (Yervoy) alone, or in combination in advanced melanoma. The authors found out that the combination therapy was more effective than treatment with either of the single drugs. Some background In advanced melanoma (stages 3 and 4), cancer spreads from the skin to...
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In a nutshell The authors assessed the effect of isolated limb perfusion (a technique to administer drugs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in melanoma patients. The authors concluded that ILP caused an initial decrease in HRQoL followed by a steady maintenance after 12 months of treatment. Some background Isolated limb...
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In a nutshell The authors assessed the effect of vemurafenib (Zelboraf) in metastatic (spread to other areas of the body) melanoma patients prior to surgery. The authors found that surgery to remove metastatic tumors is safe and effective during or just after treatment with vemurafenib. Some background In advanced melanoma (stages 3 to...
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In a nutshell This review was conducted in an effort to update current guidelines for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy. According to this update by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, all patients who receive highly emetogenic chemotherapies (treatments known to cause nausea and vomiting) should be...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effectiveness of combination therapy of dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) in advanced melanoma patients with mutations (permanent changes) in BRAF genes. The authors found out that the combination therapy improved overall survival (time from treatment until death from any cause). Some background...
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Stating the obvious: cancer takes an enormous toll on the sick individual and their family. Being stretched financially and every other way-emotionally, physically, spiritually and everything in between-may make the idea of a vacation a low priority. Yet downtime is important. But what if the vacation were free? There are organizations that have made it...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors compared the effect of narrow and wide surgical margins on long-term survival of advanced melanoma patients. The authors found that for melanoma of 2 mm thickness or greater, the surgical margin should be 2 cm. Some background The standard treatment for skin cancer remains surgical removal of the tumor along with some of...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study investigated the relationship between lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and cancer-specific survival. Researchers concluded that LDH can be used as an early indicator of cancer outcomes. Some background Early cancer detection methods have significantly improved cancer survival rates. There is increasing evidence to...
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In a nutshell This study compared weak opioids and low-dose morphine in providing pain relief for moderate cancer pain. Researchers concluded that low-dose morphine is more suitable as pain management for moderate cancer pain than weaker pain relievers. Some background The guidelines for cancer pain relief developed by the World Health...
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