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December 3, 2024
A Better Way to Keep an Eye on Glioblastoma Tumors
With:For people with glioblastoma brain tumors, it can be vital yet challenging to determine the precise size, location, and extent of the tumor. A company called Imaging Biometrics, LLC, has developed novel imaging strategies to address this issue. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks its president and CEO Michael Schmainda about these innovations. Curious Dr. George: Determining the extent of an intracranial neoplasm can be… Read more »
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November 8, 2024
How an Expert Would Treat His Own Glioblastoma: An Update
With: Al Musella, DPMWhen facing a new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Al Musella, DPM, how he would handle his own case of glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor. Dr. Musella is President of the Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc., a partner of Cancer Commons (Note: This… Read more »
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November 21, 2023
High-Energy Blue Light Powers a Promising New Treatment to Destroy Cancer Cells
With:A perennial challenge in cancer treatment is figuring out how to kill tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Our Curious Dr. George asks Stuart L. Marcus, MD, PhD, founder and Chief Science Officer at SonALAsense, how his company’s light-activated drug treatment addresses this challenge, holding potential promise for people with brain, bladder, and possibly other cancers. Curious Dr. George: Your flagship treatment employs… Read more »
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March 7, 2023
Learnings from Pilot Study: Creating Treatment Templates to Serve More Glioblastoma Patients
With:A recent pilot study between Cancer Commons and the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information is identifying patterns that are being translated into treatment templates to better serve a larger group of GBM patients. Our Curious Dr. George asks Cancer Commons Scientist Adrienne Nugent, PhD, to discuss key factors that point to the best courses of action a patient might take, and about the clinical… Read more »
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September 6, 2022
Molecular Alterations Associated With Improved Outcome in Patients With Glioblastoma Treated With Tumor-Treating Fields Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDDo molecular biomarkers have any role in treating glioblastoma (GBM)? As outlined in this scientific research report from the academic journal Neuro-Oncology Research Advances, a recent study found that 3 biomarkers were correlated with very great outcome differences for people treated with tumor-treating (electrical) fields.
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Deb Christensen, MSN, APRN, AG-CNS, AOCNS, OCN
Nurse Navigator, Cancer Commons
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October 11, 2022
Demystifying Cancer Biomarkers: Webinar Recap
Sarah StanleyIf you have just been diagnosed with cancer, or are facing recurrence, progression, or a change in treatment, you may feel bombarded with new information and advice. At some point, a clinician or even a well-meaning friend may urge you to have “biomarker testing” done. This phrase can be especially confusing when dealing with the stress of trying to understand a new diagnosis, a… Read more »
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March 22, 2022
Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDImmunotherapy uses biological substances, such as your own immune system, to attack cancer cells. Learn more about immunotherapy from the National Cancer Institute.
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Some of the most promising new treatments for advanced brain cancer are currently being tested in patients enrolled in clinical trials. We help you stay up to date on the latest results from these studies.
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September 6, 2022
Molecular Alterations Associated With Improved Outcome in Patients With Glioblastoma Treated With Tumor-Treating Fields Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDDo molecular biomarkers have any role in treating glioblastoma (GBM)? As outlined in this scientific research report from the academic journal Neuro-Oncology Research Advances, a recent study found that 3 biomarkers were correlated with very great outcome differences for people treated with tumor-treating (electrical) fields.
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October 18, 2021
Results from Clinical Trial of Veliparib for People with Unmethylated Glioblastoma Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDThis scientific report from Neuro-Oncology outlines findings from a large, randomized clinical trial showing that the drug veliparib (a kind of drug known as a PARP inhibitor) added to radiotherapy and temozolomide did not improve progression-free survival in unmethylated glioblastoma.
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Keith Flaherty, MD
Cancer Commons Advisor
Cancer affects many aspects of life, whether you’re newly diagnosed, in the midst of treatment, or in follow-up care. Learn about ways to maintain quality of life, such as palliative care and managing side effects.
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October 14, 2019
Pediatric Palliative Care: A Specialty Comes of Age
For a child with cancer, palliative care can provide much-needed relief from stress and symptoms—for the patient and their family alike. Palliative care is given alongside cancer treatment, and is not synonymous with “end-of-life” care. In fact, anyone with a serious illness can benefit from palliative care, no matter their long-term outlook. Because of its importance for children with cancer, we are honored to… Read more »
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August 11, 2021
Anxiety Before Each Chemotherapy Treatment Bookmark
Lola Rahib, PhDArticle from Let’s Win! Pancreatic Cancer: Pancreatic cancer patients share their experiences with pre-chemo anxiety and their personal strategies for overcoming it.
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January 29, 2021
Advice from the Brain Tumor Community Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDNCI-CONNECT shares insights from patients, caregivers, doctors, and advocates with the aim to help you manage your life—regardless of your brain cancer diagnosis.
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Learn more about what’s new in advanced cancer research and treatment, including screening and statistics, using artificial intelligence to improve treatment, and other new horizons in cancer care.
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July 11, 2024
The Personalized Power of the “N-of-1” Approach
With:Randomized, controlled clinical trials with a large N—number of participants—are the recognized “gold standard” of evidence-based medicine. Even so, the results of large-N trials can only reveal population averages, and are not predictive of any individual’s response to a given treatment. On the other hand, one can consider every patient with cancer as the sole participant in their own clinical trial with an Nof1, even if the trial is not… Read more »
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November 10, 2022
A Powerful Knowledge Base for Precision Oncology
With:Genetic mutations found in a tumor can be important clues to the patient’s best treatment options. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York has developed a product called OncoKB™, which enables anyone to access and navigate key clinical information about the various genetic abnormalities that may be found in tumors. Here, Curious Dr. George asks MSK Lead Software Engineer Hongxin Zhang about… Read more »
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June 2, 2022
Harnessing Each Patient’s Data to Help Many More
With: Kaumudi Bhawe, PhDAt Cancer Commons, we don’t just help people navigate cancer treatment; we learn from everyone we help. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Cancer Commons Clinical Scientist Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD, to share how new knowledge can be captured from every patient to help many more. Curious Dr. George: Cancer Commons has accumulated in-depth data on many hundreds of patients with various cancers. Because of the… Read more »
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The coronavirus pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to cancer patients. We can help you understand how COVID-19 might impact your treatment and other aspects of your cancer care.
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February 20, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination: The VOICE for Patients with Cancer Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDThis piece from the scientific journal Nature Medicine describes a new clinical trial studying vaccination against COVID-19 specifically in patients with cancer.
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February 20, 2021
Patients with Cancer Less Likely to Enroll in Clinical Trials Due to COVID-19 Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDFewer patients with cancer may be willing to enter a clinical trial. This Cancer Network article explains why and offers solutions.
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