To provide the information your oncologist is not telling you or doesn't have the time to!
Deciding to join a clinical trial can feel daunting, especially with the myths and misconceptions that surround them. Let’s take a moment to clear the air and set the record straight about what clinical trials really mean for you as a patient. Myth #1: “I’m Just a Lab Rat” Contrary to popular belief, participating in …
Meet Sarah, a resilient woman in her late 40s who has been battling stage IV metastatic melanoma. After enduring the uncertainties of her diagnosis, Sarah achieved a remarkable remission through immunotherapy, a victory that brought her and her loved ones immense relief. However, the journey doesn’t end there. Sarah now faces the ongoing challenge of …
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a malignancy with rising incidence in Western countries, largely due to increasing rates of gastroesophageal reflux disease and obesity. Despite advancements in treatment, the prognosis for EAC remains poor, with a five-year survival rate of less than 20% for advanced stages. Current management of locally advanced, resectable EAC often involves neoadjuvant …
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024 conference was a remarkable event, bringing together leading minds in oncology to discuss the latest breakthroughs and research in cancer treatment. This year’s conference was particularly notable for the innovative approaches presented in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, a challenging and aggressive form of skin cancer. In …
New article published in NEJM demonstrated activity of Pembrolizumab adjuvantly given for resected intermediate, poor risk and resected metastatic RCC. Kidney cancer remains a significant health challenge worldwide, with renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) being the most common type. Traditionally, surgery has been the primary treatment for localized kidney cancer, but the risk of recurrence remains high. …
Navigating the unpredictable waves of cancer treatment with our patients is not just a professional journey but a deeply personal experience that binds us together in shared hope and resilience. This week, I found myself reflecting on the incredible journey of a young 40 year old patient I’ve been caring for over the past six …
In the intricate world of oncology, diagnosing and treating cancer presents myriad challenges, particularly when patients exhibit rare or atypical manifestations of the disease. A compelling example of this complexity recently unfolded with a young patient from the Caribbean who presented with a large, painful scalp mass. Initially diagnosed as locally advanced skin cancer, subsequent …
I do not personally treat cervical cancers however I do have a good understanding of these disease types mainly for the purposes of rounding on the teaching inpatient oncology service where I could potentially see any solid tumor malignancy and occasionally I am called on from family members with cousins or friends that were recently …
New exciting data published in the NEJM demonstrating improved for a specific subset of lung cancer patients but also demonstrating the power of targeted therapies when we can identify a driver mutation that is sensitive or “actionable” with a treatment to shut down its specific function. Exciting! Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) represents a significant …
I’m currently on the inpatient medical oncology service. As an attending, we each take turns each month taking all oncology consults for the downtown hospital center. There was an interesting patient our team saw this past week who presented with a new diagnosis of Stage IV NSCLC and SVC syndrome. A 52-year-old woman who, amidst …