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Survivorship

Study Finds Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer May Often Be Undertreated for Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Adults who survive childhood cancer have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population, yet they are 80% more likely to be undertreated for several cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, according to new research published by Eric J. ...

Gastrointestinal Cancer
Breast Cancer
Survivorship
Multiple Myeloma
Lymphoma

NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: 2022 Updates

In 1996, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) published its first set of Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology® covering eight tumor types. Guidelines are now published for more than 60 tumor types, subtypes, and topics. During the NCCN’s 27th Annual Conference, which was again...

Leukemia
Survivorship

AYA Leukemia Survivors Have Higher Mortality Rates Than the General Population

Although considered a rare occurrence in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), aged 15 to 39 years, the incidence of cancer in this age group has been increasing by approximately 30% since the 1970s. This year, it is estimated that nearly 90,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in this...

issues in oncology
survivorship

Maria Alma Rodriguez, MD, on Vaccinations for Patients With Cancer and Cancer Survivors

Maria Alma Rodriguez, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the need for various types of vaccinations in patients with cancer, who are vulnerable to infection while under active treatment and whose immune deficits may persist long after treatment is finished. Dr. Rodriguez reviews new treatment guidelines and the steps oncology clinicians should take to ensure their patients are protected against infections.

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Short and Shorter Screening Tools for Food Insecurity

A survey of oncology registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs)1 found that most of those surveyed were not using a validated assessment tool to identify food insecurity but expressed interest in obtaining the Six-Item Short Form of the Food Security Survey Module.2  The six-item food insecurity...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Assessing Food Insecurity Among Patients With Cancer

Food insecurity, particularly as it affects cancer survivors, is a serious problem, according to a survey of oncology registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.1 “Despite these concerns, most oncology RDNs interviewed are not using...

Survivorship

Do AYA Cancer Survivors Face a Higher Risk of Developing and Dying From a New Primary Cancer?

New findings published by Hyuna Sung, PhD, and colleagues in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that 5-year survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer in the United States have a higher risk of developing—and nearly double the risk of dying from—a new primary cancer,...

Survivorship

From Iran to Silicon Valley, a Cancer Survivor Shares Her Story

The Iranian revolution of 1979 transformed Iran from an absolute monarchy under Shah Mohammad Pahlavi to an Islamist republic under Ayatollah Khomeini. The author of a new book called The Magic of Normal, Maky Zanganeh, PhD, was born in Iran in 1970. As a young woman, she experienced the war in her ...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Multilevel Factors Related to Changes in Body Adiposity in Black Survivors of Breast Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Qin et al found that gains in body weight and body fat were common in a prospective cohort of Black breast cancer survivors. The researchers also identified factors associated with these changes. As stated by the investigators, “Unfavorable...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Study Identifies Decline in Annual Screening for Breast Cancer Survivors

New research published by Lowry et al in JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network found the rate of mammography participation by breast cancer survivors has been steadily declining since 2009, particularly among younger survivors. The researchers reviewed a nationwide commercial...

Survivorship

Transportation Barriers to Health Care Among Cancer Survivors in the United States

In a study reported in a research letter in JAMA Oncology, Changchuan Jiang, MD, MPH, and colleagues found that U.S. cancer survivors were more likely to report delays in health care due to transportation barriers than persons without a history of cancer, with the difference driven by barriers...

Survivorship
Genomics/Genetics

Study Identifies Genetic Variants That May Contribute to Accelerated Aging in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Scientists from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have identified variants in two genes that may be associated with accelerated aging in childhood cancer survivors. Their research looked at the difference between the survivors’ biologic age and chronologic age. The study, published by Dong et...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship
Cardio-oncology

How Do Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Relate to Heart Failure Subtypes in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Survivors?

In an analysis from the Women’s Health Initiative reported in JACC: CardioOncology, Kerryn W. Reding, PhD, MPH, RN, and colleagues identified the incidence of hospitalization for heart failure among postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, finding that both incidence of hospitalization and risk of...

Survivorship

Cardiovascular Mortality and Cancer Mortality Over Time Among Cancer Survivors

In an English retrospective cohort study reported in JACC: CardioOncology, Strongman et al found that cardiovascular mortality in older cancer survivors ultimately exceeded mortality from common primary cancers in the time since their primary cancer diagnosis. However, the eventual predominance of...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Study Finds Cancer Treatment May Create Employment Difficulties for Some Rural Women

Rural women are likely to face significant challenges finding secure and reliable employment following cancer treatment if they did not already have a secure job at the time of their diagnosis, according to a new study led by University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) researchers. The...

Hematologic Malignancies
Survivorship

Late Mortality and Life Expectancy After Autologous Blood or Marrow Transplant: Analysis From 1981 to 2014

In an analysis from the BMT Survivor Study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Smita Bhatia, MD, MPH, and colleagues assessed late mortality over a 30-year period among patients who underwent autologous blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) for hematologic malignancies. They found an...

Survivorship
Palliative Care

Managing Long-Term Toxicity From Pelvic Radiation Therapy

Advances over the past 3 decades in improvements in cancer prevention and screening strategies and more effective diagnostics and therapies in cancer care have led to unprecedented declines in death rates from all cancers, including prostate, gynecologic, and colorectal/anal cancers. The fastest...

Survivorship

Research Outlines Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes for Female Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Survivors of childhood cancer who become pregnant in adulthood are as likely to have healthy babies as those without a history of cancer, according to a new study published by Zgardau et al in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Their children also don’t have higher risks of birth defects ...

COVID-19
Survivorship

Risk of COVID-19 Infection and Complications Among Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancers

In a Canadian population-based study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Gupta et al found that survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers were not at a greater risk of COVID-19 infection or severe complications of infection compared with matched controls without cancer....

Survivorship

Understanding How LGBTQI+ Cancer Survivors Experience Cancer Care

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning, intersexed (LGBTQI+) community face numerous challenges and barriers when accessing the health-care system in the United States, including cancer care; as a result, they may be at greater risk for developing cancer and...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Centralizing Care for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer to Improve Long-Term Survivorship

This past fall, Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York expanded its adolescent and young adult (AYA) program with the establishment of the Lisa and Scott Stuart Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers. The Stuart Center is now part of the increasing list of about 50 academic ...

Thyroid Cancer
Survivorship

Risk of Second Primary Malignancies After Radioactive Iodine Treatment for Pediatric and Young Adult Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Pasqual et al found that patients younger than 45 years who received radioactive iodine treatment for nonmetastatic differentiated thyroid cancer had an increased risk for the subsequent development of primary solid tumors. As stated by the...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Breast Cancer Survivors

In the case-control Pathways Heart Study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Kwan et al found that breast cancer survivors had an elevated risk for incident diabetes overall and according to treatment as well as an elevated risk of incident hypertension according to treatment vs controls...

Survivorship

Effect of Daily Sitting Time and Weekly Physical Activity on Cancer Survivorship

In a study reported in JAMA Oncology, Cao et al found that the combination of increased daily sitting time and low weekly leisure-time physical activity was associated with poorer overall and cancer-specific survival among U.S. cancer survivors. Study Details The study involved data from a...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Developing a Comprehensive System for Personalized Survivorship-Centered Care Plans

By 2040, the number of cancer survivors in the United States is expected to climb from 17 million today to 26.1 million, with most living 5 years or more after their diagnosis. However, many of these survivors will need ongoing monitoring for treatment-related side effects and cancer recurrence...

Survivorship

Study Examines Role of Psychological Distress in AYA Cancer Survivors

New research indicates that psychological distress from cancer and its treatment can cause many adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors to seek additional care and burden them with considerable medical expenses. The findings were published by Abdelhadi et al in the journal Cancer....

Prostate Cancer
Survivorship

Disconnect Between Expectations and Outcomes: Major Factor in Treatment-Related Regret Among Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer

“A disconnect between patient expectations and outcomes” is a major contributor to treatment-related regret among patients with localized prostate cancer, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology.1 The disconnect, “both as it relates to treatment efficacy and adverse effects, appears to...

Breast Cancer
Gynecologic Cancers
Survivorship

Effect of Bupropion vs Placebo on Sexual Desire in Postmenopausal Female Cancer Survivors

In a phase II trial (NRG-CC004) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Barton et al found that bupropion, a dopaminergic agent, did not improve sexual desire vs placebo as measured by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) desire subscale among postmenopausal women with low desire scores...

Survivorship

Achieving Equity in Cancer Care for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer

Although cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), defined by the National Cancer Institute as those between the ages of 15 and 39, is relatively rare—in 2020 nearly 90,000 AYAs were diagnosed with cancer and about 9,300 died of the disease1—and 5-year relative survival rates are high, between ...

Lymphoma
Survivorship

Study Finds Younger B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors May Have a Higher Risk of Age-Related Diseases Than Older Survivors

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in the United States, accounting for nearly 4% of all cancers. This year, about 81,600 individuals will be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and nearly 21,000 will die from the cancer. A study by Ocier et al published in Cancer...

Survivorship

Effect of Social Determinants of Health on Receipt of Survivorship Care Plans

Survivorship care plans are an important tool to help cancer survivors transition from active treatment to follow-up care, but a study published by Timsina et al in Supportive Care in Cancer has found that a number of vulnerable groups have a lower likelihood of receiving such plans. Cancer...

Survivorship

Study Assesses Benefit of Digital Health Tools for Cancer Survivors

New study results suggest that to maximize effects of digital support tools for cancer survivors, it is essential to personalize information and increase engagement efforts. The report, published by Leach et al in the journal Cancer, demonstrated significant improvement in the ability to manage...

Solid Tumors
Survivorship
Supportive Care

Goal-Focused Emotion-Regulation Therapy for Young Adult Testicular Cancer Survivors

Psychological therapy may reduce adverse biobehavioral effects of testicular cancer in young adult survivors, according to a pilot study published by Hoyt et al in the American Journal of Men’s Health. Biobehavior is the interaction of biologic processes and behavior. The recently published...

issues in oncology
survivorship

Courtney Williams, DrPH, on Cancer Survivors: Working Together to Improve Patient Adherence

Courtney Williams, DrPH, of the National Cancer Institute, discusses the costs associated with cancer survivors who don’t take their medications and cites the need for research to better understand whether residing in an urban or rural area may affect prescription adherence, and what interventions might help increase drug adherence and improve health outcomes.

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Active Living After Cancer Program May Improve Physical Functioning for Breast Cancer Survivors

Breast cancer survivors who participated in Active Living After Cancer, an evidence-based 12-week group program, markedly increased their physical activity and ability to accomplish the basic pursuits of daily life, reported Tami-Maury et al in the journal Cancer. The results show the program could ...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Effect of Mindfulness Meditation and Survivorship Education on Depressive Symptoms in Younger Breast Cancer Survivors

In a phase III trial (Pathways to Wellness) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Julienne E. Bower, PhD, and colleagues found that both mindfulness meditation and survivorship education interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms in younger breast cancer survivors. Study...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Two Studies Explore the Role of Primary Care Providers in Effective Cancer Care

Communication between patients and their primary care providers is key to ensuring effective cancer care, both before diagnosis and after treatment, according to two recent papers authored by University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center researchers. Although each study analyzed different stages of...

Survivorship
Cost of Care
Issues in Oncology

Study Examines Link Between Obesity in Long-Term Cancer Survivors and Increased Health-Care Utilization and Spending

A new study from the American Cancer Society published by Xuesong Han, PhD, and colleagues in the journal Cancer has found a link between obesity and the substantial economic burden of nearly $20 billion in 2016 among long-term cancer survivors in the United States, with one-third attributable to...

Survivorship

Disparities Observed in Follow-up Care Among Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors

A research team examined gaps and disparities in lifelong follow-up among childhood cancer survivors, including taking a closer look at long-term follow-up care plans, specifically for underserved populations. Their study showed that age and ethnic background are associated with inadequate...

Survivorship
Pain Management

Does Pain Affect the Employment and Financial Outcomes of Cancer Survivors?

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Halpern et al found that cancer survivors with pain had worse employment and financial outcomes than did those reporting no pain. Study Details The study used data from 1,213 adult survivors identified from the 2016–2017 Medical Expenditure...

Survivorship
Issues in Oncology

Frailty and Neurocognitive Decline Among Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors

In a prospective study from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Williams et al found that prefrailty and frailty among young adult childhood cancer survivors were associated with neurocognitive decline vs nonfrail counterparts, mirroring the association...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Pregnancy Outcomes and Maternal Complications Among Survivors of Breast Cancer

In a systematic review and meta-analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Matteo Lambertini, MD, PhD, and colleagues found that breast cancer survivors were less likely to have subsequent pregnancy vs the general population and more likely to have preterm birth. However, no reduction...

Colorectal Cancer
Survivorship

Quality of Life With General Practitioner– vs Surgeon-Led Colon Cancer Survivorship Care

In a 1-year interim analysis of a Dutch study (I CARE) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Vos et al found no clinically meaningful difference in changes in quality of life from baseline among patients with colon cancer with general practitioner– vs surgeon-led survivorship care. In addition,...

Lymphoma
Survivorship

Parenthood Status and Use of Assisted Reproductive Techniques in Younger Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors

In a Danish population-based study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Øvlisen et al found that parenthood rates in younger Hodgkin lymphoma survivors who did not experience early relapse were similar to those in the general population, but that use of assisted reproductive techniques...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Addressing Sexuality Challenges Throughout the Cancer Care Continuum

Multiple studies have shown that sexuality and intimacy problems are common among patients with cancer, often beginning at the time of diagnosis and persisting through the continuum of care into the survivorship setting. Although these problems have been well documented, many patients and survivors ...

Head and Neck Cancer
Survivorship

Study Explores Taste and Smell Dysfunction in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Most survivors of head and neck squamous cell cancers report that their sense of taste is dulled, changed, or lost during radiation treatment. In a study of taste and smell dysfunction in 40 cancer survivors, scientists found that the tips of these individuals' tongues were significantly less...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Breast Cancer Risk Prediction Model for Childhood Cancer Survivors Who Received Chest Radiation

In an analysis from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) and the Dutch Hodgkin Late Effects and LATER cohorts reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Moskowitz et al developed a model for predicting the risk of breast cancer among childhood cancer survivors treated with chest...

Survivorship

Study Examines Barriers to Survivorship Care

Even among a large group of cancer survivors who were mostly insured, college-educated, and had annual incomes above the national average, up to 10% delayed care in the previous 12 months because they simply could not afford out-of-pocket expenses like copays and deductibles. These findings were...

Survivorship

Refining Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Childhood Cancer Survivors

There are an estimated 500,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States, a number that will increase exponentially in the coming years. Over half of all childhood cancer survivors will have received cardiotoxic therapies during primary cancer treatment or relapse. For these survivors, there...

Survivorship

Improving Prediction of Risk for 10-Year Left-Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Survivors of Childhood Cancer

In a Dutch study reported in JACC: CardioOncology, Jan M. Leerink, PhD candidate, of Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam Department of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, and colleagues found that the addition of ejection fraction measurement at the time of first surveillance echocardiogram...

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