To provide the information your oncologist is not telling you or doesn't have the time to!
In medicine, biases, whether implicit or explicit, can significantly impact patient care. These biases might manifest as preconceived notions or preferences that subtly influence treatment recommendations. In the case of a patient of mines with metastatic GIST who developed acute renal failure secondary to an obstructing pelvis mass, a consulting urologist on call suggested to …
New data published in NEJM may new treatment options for patients dealing with metastatic small cell carcinoma! Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) stands as one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, often leaving patients and their families grappling with limited treatment options and a prognosis that can seem disheartening. But amidst these challenges, there emerges …
I recently took a trip with my family for about two weeks. It is always a bit nerve wracking to take off for some personal time given that there are so many moving parts in any given day. I wrote this post to remind patients and their families that no matter where your oncologist may …
If you or a loved one is battling locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC), there’s groundbreaking news to share. On December 15, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light to a dynamic combination of treatments: enfortumab vedotin-ejfv (Padcev) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda). This approval is especially significant for patients ineligible for …
On December 14, 2023, the FDA gave the green light to belzutifan (Welireg, Merck & Co., Inc.), offering new hope for individuals battling advanced kidney cancer. It’s like unlocking a powerful tool after trying different strategies. Understanding Belzutifan’s Power Against Kidney Cancer Imagine your body as a bustling city with the kidneys playing the role …
Amongst my medical oncology colleagues, we each do about two months a year rounding with the inpatient team of fellows, residents, students, pharmacists, and extenders for either the inpatient medical oncology or hematology service. So any cancer patient admitted to our hospital system will often be seen by these two teams. In addition, I often …
Empowering Hope: A Breakthrough in CLL/SLL Treatment On December 1, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) delivered a beacon of hope by granting accelerated approval to pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca, Eli Lilly and Company). This approval is a significant stride in the treatment landscape for adults facing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) …
On December 13, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) achieved a significant breakthrough by granting approval to eflornithine (IWILFIN, USWM, LLC) for use in both adult and pediatric patients facing the challenges of high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB). This groundbreaking decision marks the first-ever FDA approval of a therapy designed to reduce the risk of relapse …
This message comes from Ashlee Jones, our dedicated nurse navigator specializing in melanoma and sarcoma. She is held in high regard by our entire team, including nurses, pharmacists, staff, research professionals, and physicians! I’ve consistently believed that patients newly diagnosed with cancer may face a challenging beginning to their journey, given the unfamiliar diagnosis, the …
In a groundbreaking move, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for enzalutamide (Xtandi, Astellas Pharma US, Inc.) to address non-metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (nmCSPC) with biochemical recurrence. This significant development brings renewed hope for patients at high risk for metastasis. The Road to Approval: EMBARK Trial Insights In the EMBARK clinical trial …