In a nutshell This study compared two different types of radiation therapy after prostate surgery for prostate cancer, hypofractionated postprostatectomy radiation therapy (hypoPORT) and conventional postprostatectomy radiation therapy (coPORT). Results showed that hypoPORT may be effective in prostate cancer control and with similar side effects as...
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Evaluating long-term outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy for low- and medium-risk prostate cancer
In a nutshell This study aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as a treatment for prostate cancer. This study found that SBRT is a safe and effective option for low and medium risk prostate cancer. Some background Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a treatment option for...
Read MoreLaparoscopic surgery is associated with improved quality of life in patients with colon cancer
In a nutshell This study compared open surgery to laparoscopic surgery (LS; a tube with a camera is inserted through a small cut to remove the tumor) in terms of quality of life in patients with colon cancer. Researchers suggested that patients treated with LS had an improved quality of life after surgery. Some background Colon cancer is...
Read More2018 Guidelines for the treatment of Early Stage Prostate Cancer
In a nutshell This article reviewed treatment guidelines that have been recommended for patients with early-stage prostate cancer. Some background This analysis of existing treatment guidelines was done by the leading experts in prostate cancer research. They have made recommendations on the treatment of early-stage prostate cancer. Methods...
Read MoreChemotherapy before surgery in the treatment of high risk rectal cancer
In a nutshell This study investigated the outcomes of chemotherapy before surgery in patients with high-risk rectal cancer. Researchers suggested that chemotherapy improves tumor shrinkage before rectal surgery. Some background The standard treatment for patients with rectal cancer is surgery. High-risk patients may benefit from short-course...
Read MoreCan men with low-risk prostate cancer on active surveillance be monitored only by PSA and MRI?
In a nutshell This study aimed to investigate if MRI scans (a test that takes detailed images of inside the body) could safely replace biopsies (samples taken from tissues for close examination) in active surveillance for prostate cancer. This study found that men with low-risk disease can be monitored using MRI and PSA levels with selective...
Read MoreTreatment guidelines for patients with rectal cancer – 2018
In a nutshell In this study, the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN) updated the recommendations for treating patients with localized rectal cancer. Some background Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States. A decrease in the number of new cases of colorectal cancer has been seen in the last decade. However,...
Read MoreDoes the frequency of surveillance after surgery impact survival in patients with NSCLC?
In a nutshell This study looked at the frequency of follow-ups after surgical treatment in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and whether it had an effect on survival. The study concluded that more frequent surveillance was not linked to improved survival. Some background Surveillance during the post-treatment stage of cancer is a critical...
Read MoreAre higher doses of radiation in less time better than conventional radiotherapy for prostate cancer?
In a nutshell This study aimed to investigate whether dose-escalated hypo-fractionated (higher doses in less time) radiation therapy would lead to better overall survival or less chance of cancer recurrence than the conventional method. They found that there is superior cancer control associated with dose-escalated hypo-fractionated radiation therapy for...
Read MoreGenetics used to guide breast cancer chemotherapy treatment
In a nutshell This study examined if the presence of certain genes had an effect on endocrine (hormone) treatment alone compared to chemoendocrine (chemotherapy and hormone) treatment for breast cancer. The study concluded that endocrine and chemoendocrine had the same effectiveness in women with certain genetic factors. Some background Breast cancer...
Read MoreDoes radiotherapy improve outcomes for patients with primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma?
In a nutshell This study evaluated the impact of radiotherapy on the outcomes of rituximab (Rituxan)-treated patients with primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This study concluded that radiotherapy has significant therapeutic benefits for these patients. Some background Primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare type of...
Read MoreAlopecia after breast cancer treatment
In a nutshell This study aimed to find out how common persistent hair loss (alopecia) is after breast cancer chemotherapy, and how to prevent it. The authors found that persistent alopecia was present in all forms of chemotherapy but was worse with docetaxel (Taxotere) and could be prevented by using a scalp cooling technique. Some background...
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