In a nutshell This study investigated the effects of specific lifestyle factors in the incidence and severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in breast cancer patients. This study found that obesity, antioxidant supplements and physical activity were associated with CIPN. Some background CIPN, or damage to the...
Read MoreCurrent stage-Stage III Posts on Medivizor
Vemurafenib combined with cobimetinib is an effective treatment option for BRAF-mutant melanoma
In a nutshell This study examined the effectiveness and safety of the combined treatment of vemurafenib (Zelboraf) with cobimetinib (Cotellic) in advanced melanoma. Researchers concluded that this combination treatment is an important therapy option for patients with advanced melanoma. Some background Some melanoma patients have a...
Read MorePost-surgery anastomotic leakage and stenosis is associated with pre-surgery radiation therapy
In a nutshell This study investigated the impact of radiation therapy (RT) followed by surgery in rectal cancer patients. Researchers suggested that RT increases the risk of anastomotic leakage and narrowing (stenosis) after rectal cancer. Some background Surgery for rectal cancer often involves the rejoining of two parts of intestine. Anastomotic...
Read MoreLateral pelvic lymph node metastasis has a prognostic role in rectal cancer
In a nutshell This study investigated the prognostic role of extramural tumor deposits (clusters of cancer cells not attached to the main tumor) in the pelvic area in rectal cancer. Researchers suggested that tumor deposits near the pelvic lymph nodes was a useful predictor of prognosis. Some background Colorectal cancer is one of the most common...
Read MoreInvasive breast cancer: a review
In a nutshell This review outlined the recommended treatment options for invasive breast cancer. Some background Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world and it is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Breast cancer often begins in the milk ducts and lobules. In invasive breast cancer, the cancer moves...
Read MoreInvestigation of the effectiveness and safety of treatment with neratinib
In a nutshell This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of neratinib treatment in patients with early-stage HER2+ breast cancer. The study concluded that neratinib significantly improved 2-year invasive disease-free survival in women with HER2+ breast cancer. Some background HER2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer is dependent on the...
Read MoreLDH as an early predictor of cancer survival
In 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...
Read MoreImproving radiation therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer
In a nutshell The current study examined whether targeted radiotherapy benefited survival in patients with stage 3 (spread to the lymph nodes) non-small cell lung cancer. The authors found that 3-dimensional (3D) conformal radiotherapy was associated with increased survival rates in these patients. Some background Many lung cancers are not...
Read MoreIn what order should chemotherapies be delivered?
In a nutshell This review discussed the use of second-line chemotherapy (therapy after disease progression despite initial treatment) in colorectal cancer. Some background Patients with advanced (spread to lymph nodes and beyond) colorectal cancer often require a second round of chemotherapy following their first treatments. The use of multiple...
Read MoreIpilimumab-induced hypophysitis in advanced melanoma
In a nutshell The authors analyzed the occurrence, management and risk factors of hypophysitis (a complication of the immune system following ipilimumab [Yervoy] therapy) in advanced melanoma patients. Some background In advanced melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads rapidly from the skin to other parts of the body....
Read MoreNon-sentinel lymph node status in melanoma: how important it is for cancer staging?
In a nutshell The authors analyzed the importance of non-sentinel lymph nodes in predicting the outcomes for patients with skin melanoma. Some background In skin melanoma, sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the first lymph node (tiny, bean-shaped organ that helps fight infection) to which the cancer cells are believed to have spread...
Read MoreThe effects of chemotherapy on thyroid function
In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess whether chemotherapy has an impact on thyroid function. Some background The thyroid is an endocrine gland (tissue that releases hormones) found in the neck. It controls how quickly the body uses energy used in the body, how the body reacts to other hormones and makes proteins. Thyroid hormones can...
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