Developing better methods for managing cancer pain

The increased prevalence of cancer pain and the impact of the opioid epidemic on cancer pain management—and on managing chronic pain in general—have sparked renewed interest in developing new, nonaddictive pain medications as well as nondrug approaches for managing chronic pain. Thanks in part to the development of animal models of some types of cancer pain, researchers are beginning to better understand its underlying biology. In particular, scientists are identifying molecules that generate pain signals and gaining insights into how the nervous system transmits these signals from the pain site to the brain, where pain is perceived.

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cancer diagnosis may quadruple suicide risk

A new study conducted at the Penn State Cancer Institute has found a significant correlation between cancer diagnosis and risk of committing suicide.  According to radiation oncologist Dr. Nicholas Zaorsky, "even though cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, most cancer patients do not die from cancer; the patients usually die of another cause."  Of these multiple other causes, distress and depression, potentially leading to suicide occurs 4 times more often than in the general population.  These findings stress the importance of screening cancer patients for forms of mental distress. 


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Source mentioned: Zaorsky NG, Zhang Y, Tuanquin L, Bluethmann S, Park HS, Chinchilli VM. Suicide among cancer patients. Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1): 207.

Regular exercise before and after cancer diagnosis increases lifespan

A new study conducted at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Buffalo, N.Y. has shown that regular exercise both before and after a cancer diagnosis "significantly improves odds of survival."  The study conducted on 5,800 patients with a wide range of cancers in all stages who exercised 3-4 times/week before and after cancer diagnosis had a 40% lower death rate than those patients that were inactive.  However, study author Rikki Cannioto stated that even those patients who never exercised prior to cancer diagnosis still reduced their death rate by 25%-28%, provided they began an exercise regimen once they were afflicted with cancer.


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Cancer mortality rates have declined continuously for the past 25 years

Cancer death rates in the United States have continuously declined between 1991 and 2016, there has been a 27% drop overall which translates to approximately 2.6 million fewer cancer deaths. The article appears early online in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, and is accompanied by a consumer version, Cancer Facts & Figures 2019.

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A study tracked cancer patients using crowdfunding to pay for homeopathy

Health policy researchers from Simon Fraser University (SFU) and University of Alberta conducted a study to find out how often cancer patients or their supporters turned to crowdfunding platforms to raise money for complementary treatment. The analysis was published in The Lancet, identified 220 active fundraising campaigns in June 2018.

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Testicular cancer greater threat to young men

Although testicular cancer is quite rare (an estimated 9,000 cases are predicted this year in the United States), "it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males aged 15 to 40."  According to Dr. Aditya Bagrodia, assistant professor of urology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, early diagnosis is essential, and men should be aware of conditions such as painless swelling or pea/marble-size mass in the testicle, along with a dull ache in the groin or scrotum.  Dr. Bagrodia further emphasized that "diagnosis at an early stage can mean the difference between a straightforward surgical cure and having to potentially undergo chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries", should the cancer spread to other parts of the body.


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