To provide the information your oncologist is not telling you or doesn't have the time to!
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 …
This post is dedicated to all the hard working oncology nurses! In cancer care, oncology nurses are often the unsung heroes, playing a myriad of roles that go beyond traditional nursing responsibilities. This post celebrates these compassionate caregivers, shedding light on the multifaceted roles they play in the journey of a cancer patient. 1. Patient …
Cancer screening has witnessed a transformative evolution, with technological advancements paving the way for more effective and less invasive methods. In this article, we will explore the integration of liquid biopsies as a groundbreaking approach to early cancer detection. This non-invasive method holds immense potential in detecting genetic alterations and circulating tumor DNA, ushering in …
In a groundbreaking development for patients with progressing desmoid tumors, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for nirogacestat, a novel treatment provided by SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc. This approval marks a significant milestone as the first-ever sanctioned therapy for desmoid tumors, offering hope and a new avenue of treatment for affected individuals. Let’s …
In the realm of oncology, antibiotics assume a nuanced, yet critical role. They stand as guardians against bacterial threats, but wield a double-edged sword when it comes to their interaction with cancer treatments and the patient’s microbiome. This piece aims to untangle the complexities of antibiotic use in cancer care, highlighting how they operate, when …