Structured exercise enters ESMO guidelines for colon cancer as recommended treatment

 The European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) has released an update to their colon cancer guidelines, whereby "physical activity, when personalized and delivered as a structured program" is now recommended...for patients with resected stage III or high-risk stage II colon cancer." Over a period of 3 years, 889 stage III or stage II high-risk colon cancer patients enrolled in the CHALLENGE study saw significant improvements in disease-free survival over 5 years (80.3%) compared to 73.9% of patients who received health education materials and standard surveillance with no structured exercise program. 

Click here to learn more about the CHALLENGE study. 

Webinar: compassion in oncology: a powerful antidote to a patient’s negative emotions

 The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) has produced a new webinar discussing empathy and compassion in cancer care. In their presentation, Dr. Michael Crain and Claudio Pannunzio discuss three key aspects of compassionate care: "improving patient outcomes and satisfaction, decreasing health care costs, [and] reducing workplace burnout." 

To learn more and view the webinar, click here. 

 

Webinar: Making the mouth-body connection in cancer care

 The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) has recently created a webinar, presented by Jill Meter-Lippert, dental hygienist and founder of Side Effect Support, discussing "current evidence or oral-systemic links with various types of cancer."  The presentation discusses a partnership between oncologists and dental practitioners, focusing on "oral hygiene modifications and product recommendations" to prevent, delay, or reduce complications from side effects following cancer treatments. 

Click here to view the complete webinar. 

COVID-19 & cancer: future of the pandemic [YouTube video presentation]

Dr. Otis Brawley, a renowned cancer control expert from Johns Hopkins University recently held a question and answer session discussing "the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and what cancer survivors need to know going forward to best protect themselves."  Dr. Brawley's research is focused on cancer screening strategies and lifestyle reduction programs, including "striving to close racial, economic, and social disparities in the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer in the United States and worldwide." 

To view the complete session, click here. 

Patient Education: FAQ on COVID-19 (coronavirus) and cancer patients

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has unveiled a FAQ, Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Patients with Cancer.  This document includes a brief history of the COVID-19 outbreak, common symptoms, and precautions that must be taken amongst cancer patients.

Click here for more information.

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) releases new patient guide in breast cancer

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has released a new edition of the ESMO Patient Guide in Breast Cancer, as part of their guideline series. 


Updates to the new edition include:

• section on locally-advanced disease
• new section on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)
• new drugs (neratinib, olaparib, and talazoparib) and associated treatment algorithms
• section on special populations (BRCA-associated disease, pregnancy, young women, elderly patients, men)
• Section on supplementary interventions (supportive and palliative care, survivorship, end-of-life care

 To access the new guide, click here.

The key to the HPV vaccination discussions with parents is cancer prevention

The conclusion of a new study found that health care providers should emphasize cancer prevention when discussing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination with the parents of preteens who are due to receive the vaccine. The study asked a diverse group of parents what they felt are the most compelling reasons to get their children vaccinated. Results of the NCI-funded study were published in the July 2018 Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

To read more about this study, click here.

Upcoming webinars from Johns Hopkins University on cancer survivorship

The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at John Hopkins University will be offering 2 webinars pertaining to cancer survivorship during June and July

• Advances in Localized Breast Cancer Treatments (Tuesday, June 5, 2018; 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. EDT)
• Menopausal Management and Breast Cancer (Friday, July 27, 2018; 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. EDT)

Webinars are free, however registration is required.


For more information and to register, please click here.

Testing an interactive approach to promote exercise in young cancer survivors

A study at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital created an interactive website designed to promote physical activity among children and adolescents who have completed treatment for cancer. According to preliminary results from a pilot study, the website may indeed help encourage them to get regularly exercise.

To read more about this study, click here.

ESMO Guides for Patients in Italian

The European Society for Medical Oncology cervical cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer patient guides are now available in Italian.

ESMO Guides for Patients are designed to assist patients, their relatives and caregivers to better understand the nature of different types of cancer and evaluate the best available treatment choices. Read more here.

ESMO Guides for Patients in Romanian

We are pleased to announce that our breast cancer and prostate cancer Guides for Patients are now available in Romanian!

ESMO Guides for Patients are designed to assist patients, their relatives and caregivers to better understand the nature of different types of cancer and evaluate the best available treatment choices. Read more here.

Telephone counseling leads more adult childhood cancer survivors to get heart screenings

Supplementing written heart screening guidelines with telephone counseling from specially trained nurses more than doubled the likelihood that adult survivors of childhood cancer received recommended heart checks, according to results from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. This study was designed to understand and address why more survivors do not get the periodic heart screenings that are recommended to detect cardiomyopathy early when interventions may slow disease progression and prevent heart failure. Read more here.

Free webinar on navigating life with a brain tumour

The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada will be running a free webinar discussing support and therapeutic programs for those afflicted with brain tumours. The webinar is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT. Click here for more information and to register for this event.

Alberta to propose law that would ban people under 18 from tanning beds

Alberta’s health minister says a new law will be introduced later this year that will keep people under 18 out of tanning beds.

Fred Horne had earlier said legislation would protect youth from skin cancer, but he didn’t indicate if that meant including such a ban.

Read more from Global Mail.

Cancer patients should focus on present: expert

Staying in the present sounds simple, but it's not easy, especially for cancer patients. Read more about Dr. Linda Carlson from today's Leader-Post.

UCSD researchers find that a large number of people who say they use cigarettes, don't consider themselves to be smokers

While smoking among California adults has dramatically declined in recent decades, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report there is a surprisingly large number of people who say they use cigarettes, but don’t consider themselves to be “smokers.” Wael K. Al-Delaimy, MD, PhD, professor and chief of the Division of Global Health in the UC San Diego Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, and colleagues estimate that, in 2011, almost 396,000 Californians smoked on a measurable basis, but rejected the characterization of “smoker.” Read more here.

Study mentioned: Leas EC, et al. Smokers who report smoking but do not consider themselves smokers: a phenomenon in need of further attention. Tob Control. 2014 Feb 5. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24500273

Fourth European Advocacy in Action Forum during the 2013 European Cancer Congress

ESMO and Vital Options International present the 4th European Advocacy In Action® Forum, bringing together influential leaders from the cancer advocacy community. Fifteen videos have been made available online on the following topics: Palliative care & quality of life care, Cancer patient compliance: whose responsibility?, Building knowledge & competencies for patient involvement in clinical trials. View the videos here.

Non-small-cell lung cancer: a guide for patients

This newly updated guide for patients has been prepared by ESMO in collaboration with Anticancer Fund as a service to patients, to help patients and their relatives better understand the nature of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and appreciate the best treatment choices available according to the subtype of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Read more here.

Seven key findings from 8-year study of cancer caregivers

To better understand the effects of cancer on the quality of life of caregivers, the American Cancer Society’s Behavioral Research Center conducted an 8-year study – the American Cancer Society National Quality of Life Survey for Caregivers – initiated in 2002. It is the largest nationwide, long-term study of its kind, encompassing surveys of nearly 2,000 cancer caregivers. Read more here.

Prevention Policies Directory supports change at the local level to improve the lives of Canadians

More than one in three Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Yet the World Cancer Research Fund estimates that a full third of cancer cases can be prevented by eliminating tobacco use, and another third avoided by a combination of eating nutritious food, limiting alcohol consumption, participating in regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight.

While Canadians can take steps on their own to try to prevent these cancers, healthy public policies such as banning smoking on all city property or keeping junk food out of public buildings are just a few ways local governments can influence the health of residents directly, and help to reduce their risk of getting cancer. Read more here.