In a nutshell This study aimed to investigate two techniques used to treat low rectal cancer, abdominoperineal resection (APR) and intersphincteric resection (ISR). This study found there was no significant difference in long-term outcomes for APR and ISR. Some background APR is a common surgery to remove low rectal cancers. A low rectal...
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Stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with inoperable lung cancer
In a nutshell This study wanted to find out how well a treatment for lung cancer called stereotactic body radiation therapy works in patients with lung cancer that cannot be surgically removed. The study found that this treatment is effective in patients with lung cancer, and a higher dose of radiation is not any better than a lower dose. Some...
Read MoreJoint pain and falls among women with breast cancer on aromatase inhibitors.
In a nutshell This study wanted to find out if joint pain is associated with falling down in patients with breast cancer who were treated with aromatase inhibitors. The study found that the patients who reported having joint pain were more likely to have a fall than those who had no joint pain. Some background Aromatase inhibitors are medications...
Read MoreLymphocyte count reduction is associated with better rectal cancer outcomes
In a nutshell This study investigated the relationship between lymphocyte (a type of white blood cells) counts and treatment outcomes for patients with rectal cancer. Researchers suggested that lymphocyte count reduction may be caused by rectal cancer treatment and is associated with better tumor response. Some background Colorectal cancer is the...
Read MoreLength of treatment with trastuzumab in HER2+ early stage breast cancer
In a nutshell This study wanted to find out what the best length of treatment with trastuzumab (Herceptin) is for HER2+ early stage breast cancer. The study found that at least one year of treatment had the best results in terms of how well it worked, and the cost-effectiveness. Some background HER-2 positive breast cancer is a type of cancer where...
Read MoreAdding mFOLFOX6 to the standard treatment for rectal cancer increases cancer response and survival
In a nutshell This study investigated whether adding mFOLFOX6 (modified; folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin) chemotherapy after standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT) and delaying surgery improves cancer response and survival in rectal cancer. Researchers suggest that this treatment increases disease-free survival (DFS;...
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 MoreHomeopathic medicine for hot flushes in patients with breast cancer
In a nutshell This study wanted to determine if a homeopathic treatment for hot flushes would improve the quality of life of patients undergoing hormonal therapy for breast cancer. The study concluded that after four weeks, there was a modest improvement in the quality of life of these patients. Some background Hormonal therapy for breast cancer...
Read MoreSurgical treatment options for anal melanoma
In a nutshell This study compared the afety and effectiveness of two surgical treatments for anal melanoma. The study found that patients who had a local excision and patients who had an abdominoperineal resection had the same level of overall survival. Some background Anal melanoma is a very rare cancer. Two surgical options for treatment are...
Read MoreCan vitamin D supplements prevent relapse in non-small-cell lung cancer?
In a nutshell This study looked at the effect of vitamin D supplements at preventing relapse in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The authors concluded that vitamin D supplements might have the potential for improving survival in patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. Some background Current therapy for early-stage NSCLC...
Read MoreComparing open and laparoscopic surgery for patients with rectal cancer
In a nutshell This study compared the outcomes of patients with rectal cancer treated with either laparoscopy (LPS; removal of the tumor by using a cable with a camera inserted near the tumor) or open surgery. Researchers found no differences in outcomes between LPS and open surgery for these patients. Some background Treatment for rectal...
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...
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