ACS Now Has a Guideline for Care of Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
March 23rd 2016With an increasing population of head and neck cancer survivors in the United States, the American Cancer Society identified the need to develop survivorship guidelines that can lend support to primary care clinicians and other health practitioners as they care for survivors.
Duke Study Recommends Against Annual LDCT in a Subset of High-Risk Lung Cancer Patients
March 22nd 2016"Our analysis suggests that annual screens may not be warranted for patients who have had an initial negative scan, and future risk prediction and cost-effectiveness models could incorporate these data to improve screening guidelines," said the study's lead author.
Increased Travel Burden Could Reduce Prospect of Radiation Treatment
March 21st 2016Analysis of data on nearly 27,000 patients with rectal cancer found distance from site of radiation therapy, along with a few other factors, could significantly impact the possibility of the patient receiving treatment.
NICE Reverses Stand on Abiraterone After Janssen Submits Additional Data
March 21st 2016Based on the review of additional data submitted by Janssen, an appraisal committee from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has finalized a guidance that recommends abiraterone for use in some prostate cancer patients prior to chemotherapy.
5 Key Takeaways From Cancerscape: ACCC's Meeting on Policy, Value, and Quality
March 18th 2016The 42nd annual meeting of the Association of Community Cancer Centers ensured that none of the oncology care providers in the audience left without realizing that healthcare has slowly been migrating to include value in care delivery and reimbursement decisions.
Telehealth for Melanoma? Dermatologists Prove It Is Possible
March 16th 2016Dermatologists have conducted a research study that proves "smartphone microscopes" can improve the detection of skin cancer in remote areas and in developing nations, where specialists are not as easily accessible to patients.
US Healthcare System Needs a Revamp to Maintain Pace With Innovation: ASCO Report
March 15th 2016A new report published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology has drawn a mixed picture of oncology care in the United States-reduced mortality, increased survivors, and progress in treatment coupled with unsustainable costs and an unstable clinical setting.
Sorafenib and Sunitinib May Cause More Harm Than Good in Patients With RCC
March 14th 2016Two inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer do not prevent cancer recurrence when used in the adjuvant setting following surgery, according to a new study in the Lancet.
PhRMA's Policy Proposals Seek Innovation, but at What Cost?
March 11th 2016The proposals recommend modernizing policies across the healthcare industry, including the drug discovery and development process, promoting value-driven healthcare, increasing the consumer voice, and addressing market distortions.
New Payment Model Will Test High-Value Prescription Drug Use Under Part B
March 8th 2016CMS has announced its plans to evaluate a new value-based payment model for prescription drugs covered under the Part B program. This is yet another move by the federal body to ensure quality care for Medicare enrollees.
Personalizing Melanoma Treatment Based on Patient Response
March 7th 2016By monitoring for mutations in the circulating tumor DNA of melanoma patients undergoing treatment, researchers at Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute are confident they can predict how patients will respond to their treatment and whether their disease would relapse.
How Can We Identify the Value of Personalized Medicine in Cancer?
March 3rd 2016At Cancerscape, the Association of Community Cancer Center’s 42nd annual meeting on policy, value, and quality, Kavita Patel, MD, MS, spoke about the clinical imperatives of personalized medicine and the demonstration of value to all stakeholders.