Amy Reed, physician and patient who “moved mountains” to end widespread use of power morcellation, dies at 44

“I always wanted to be a doctor when I was little,” Reed said in 2015. “I wanted to go into medicine and be a doctor and fix things, and cure the world.”


Reed’s dream came true, albeit not in the way she envisioned.


Reed, a Pennsylvania native, died May 24 from complications stemming from disseminated uterine cancer. She was 44.


Read this true story of how the use of power morcellators should not be used for hysterectomies or fibroid removal.

WHO list of priority medical devices for cancer management

Have you checked the new priority list of medical devices for cancer management? This list also describes for six types of cancer: breast, cervical, colorectal, leukemia, lung and prostate.

Scientists report progress on genetic test for anal cancer

A new genetic test being conducted at Cancer Research U.K.may be a "less invasive method to help doctors identify people who are at a higher risk of anal cancer and avoid unnecessary procedures for those who are at a lower risk."  According to Dr. Rachel Orritt, Cancer Research U.K.'s health information officer, this study provides a stronger connection between what is known regarding cell DNA changes and cervical cancer, providing a new more definitive set of biomarkers to identify men and women at increased risk of anal cancer.

To read more about this study, click here 

Association of delayed adjuvant chemotherapy with survival after lung cancer surgery

A recent retrospective study of 12 473 patients with NSCLC from the National Cancer Database found that, adjuvant chemotherapy given later (57–127 days) in the postoperative period was not associated with mortality. Furthermore, patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy later had a significantly better survival when compared with patients treated with surgery alone.

Read more here.

Eating nuts linked to improved chances of survival for colon cancer patients

2 New studies, scheduled for presentation at next month's annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, indicate that consumption of nuts, along with a healthy diet and regular exercise increases a colon cancer patients chances of survival.  One of the studies, funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, followed 800 patients who underwent surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer.  These patients were followed for 7 years following completion of chemotherapy, and asked specific questions pertaining to their diet, in particular the amount of nuts consumed.  19% of patients surveyed reported eating at least 2 ounces of nuts per week, with researchers finding "both a lower risk of cancer recurrence and higher overall survival in that group."

To read more about this study, click here.

E-cigarettes linked to bladder cancer risk

A recent news release by the American Urological Association indicates that the use of e-cigarettes leads to an increased risk of bladder cancer.  According to a study conducted at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, researchers found that "e-cigarettes triggered cancer-related damage to bladder tissue...[while also showing that] nicotine, nitrosamines and formaldehyde led to damage while blocking DNA repair, boosting cancer risk."

To read more about this study, click here.

Tai chi for insomnia in breast cancer survivors

A new study conducted at the UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavour in Los Angeles indicates that tai chi may help relax breast cancer survivors with insomnia.  According to study lead Dr. Michael Irwin, tai chi was seen as being more effective "than medication in treating insomnia and reducing the risk for sleep loss-related health issues, including depression, fatigue, and a weakened immune system."

To read more about this study, click here.

Therapeutic and preventive implications of moonshot in hereditary cancer syndromes

President Obama’s proposed fiscal year 2017 budget includes $1 billion for eliminating cancer. This initiative has led to the belief that concentrating on treatment is a limited approach to the overall reduction of cancer mortality, considering the success of cancer research in prevention. However, a powerful method for cancer prevention and survival has been the discipline of hereditary cancer syndromes. This article discusses the significance of investing billions of dollars in genomic sequencing and the implications of finding a hereditary mutation in patients with metastatic cancer using next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Read more here.

Hope for 1st drug against lymphedema

Researchers at the Standard University School of Medicine claim to be close to developing the first drug therapy to combat lymphedema, a a condition causing painful swollen limbs that affects many cancer patients, especially those that have undergone treatment for breast cancer.

While most of the research conducted thus far is based on results from mice and human cells, a clinical trial is in place "to see whether these lab discoveries will translate into a new lymphedema treatment."

To read more about this study, click here.

How can we answer still open questions about contribution of hormone therapy in prostate cancer to cognitive deficits?

Please read the reply from JAMA Oncology about an recent article on the association of androgen deprivation therapy with increased dementia risk.

Cervical cancer and lasting symptoms on survivors

A new study conducted at the Medical University in Vienna indicates that many survivors of cervical cancer continue to experience "mild to moderate fatigue, insomnia, and hot flashes" several years after their cancer diagnosis.  According to study author Stephanie Smet, a radiation oncology resident, the 1200 women who took part in the study were all survivors of locally advanced cervical cancer, and ranged in age from 22 - 91; 64% of these women experienced fatigue, and 43% reported insomnia.

To read more about this study, click here.

Myelodysplastic syndrome: Is it just that? The importance of obtaining an accurate family history

Up to 72 percent of adolescents with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and monosomy 7 have the GATA2 mutation. Approximately one-half of the cases of GATA2 deficiency result from a germline mutation and is heritable.

Oncology nurses and providers are in a unique position to impact these outcomes by obtaining detailed and accurate family histories to optimize treatment decisions, especially for patients with MDS and/or AML. Research has shown that GATA2 patients that undergo stem cell transplantation prior to development of life-threatening infections or cytogenetic abnormalities have better outcomes.Interventions: An accurate family history is a valuable, inexpensive, and often underused tool. Please read the latest conference abstract on the Importance of obtaining an accurate family history.

Clinician participation in CADTH’s pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review: contribution and impact on cancer drug funding recommendations

In any given week, media headlines publicize the benefits of a new “breakthrough” cancer drug, with patients and clinicians subsequently advocating for its use. Governments, which face the difficult task of deciding how best to allocate limited public resources, must at the same time balance ongoing commitments to provide optimal health care for Canadians and to ensure value for money and the sustainability of the Canadian health care system.

Established by the provincial and territorial ministries of health, the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pcodr) program operating within the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (cadth) is designed to bring consistency and clarity to the assessment of cancer drugs by looking at clinical and economic evidence, by taking into consideration clinician and patient perspectives, and by using that information to make recommendations to the participating jurisdictions to guide their drug funding decisions.

Read more here.