In a nutshell This study wanted to compare the side effects of immunotherapy and those of chemotherapy for melanoma. The study found that immunotherapy was associated with fewer side effects than treatment with chemotherapy. Some background Standard treatment for cancer included chemotherapies. These include drugs that attack and kill cancer...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study wanted to find out which was the better treatment for advanced melanoma that has been surgically treated, ipilimumab (Yervoy) or high dose interferon alfa (HDI). The study found that low dose ipilimumab resulted in better overall survival than HDI and high dose ipilimumab, but all of the treatments had...
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In a nutshell This study wanted to find out what the best order is for treating melanoma with immunotherapy medications and surgery. The study found that immunotherapy before surgery resulted in better survival outcomes for these patients. Some background Treatments for melanoma have changed in the last few years. A newer treatment is...
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In a nutshell This study wanted to find out if a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was related to the survival of patients with melanoma treated with PD-1 inhibitor treatment. The study found that the higher the NLR, the lower the chances of survival in these patients. Some background One type of melanoma treatment involves...
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In a nutshell This study wanted to find out how well patients with advanced melanoma treated with certain medications survived outside of clinical trials. The study found that patients treated with nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) or patients treated with anti-PD1 antibodies had longer survival compared to those treated with BRAF/MEK...
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By Steve Gillman What my cancer taught me about medical “evidence” and how much is enough I exaggerate. My oncologist probably does believe humans need food, but I suspect the belief makes him uncomfortable, since no double-blind studies have been done to prove it. Like many doctors, his general approach to treatment is that if something hasn’t been...
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In a nutshell This study wanted to find out what put patients at risk of having immune-related side effects when they were treated with pembrolizumab (Keytruda). The study found that patients with a higher body mass index (BMI; a measurement of weight in relation to height) and more cycles of treatment were more likely to determine...
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In a nutshell This article reviewed treatment options for patients with advanced melanoma. Some background Treatment for melanoma depends on several factors, including the disease stage. Advanced melanoma is diagnosed when cancer can be detected outside of the original tumor. This makes treatment difficult. Currently, there...
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In a nutshell This article reviewed different treatment options for patients with melanoma. Some background Melanoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Treatment options for patients with melanoma depend on how extensive it is. Melanoma that remains in its original site in the skin is called localized disease. It can also...
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In a nutshell This study compared nivolumab (Opdivo) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy) to either drug alone for the treatment of advanced melanoma. The authors concluded that nivolumab plus ipilimumab or nivolumab alone increased survival compared to ipilimumab alone for these patients. Some background Advanced melanoma is a type of skin cancer that...
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In a nutshell This study evaluated whether combining BRAF and MEK inhibitors was safer and more effective than BRAF inhibitor treatment alone for patients with melanoma. This study concluded that combination therapy led to better survival but was associated with certain side effects. Some background Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can be...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study investigated if there is a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in cancer survivors. They found that cancer survivors have a higher risk of CVD. Some background Improved cancer detection and treatment has increased the rates of survival. The number of cancer survivors living for more than 10 years is growing. Some...
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