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December 23, 2019
Renal Cell Cancer Treatment: The Old, the Almost Old, and the New
Emma Shtivelman, PhDClear cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC) is the predominant type of kidney cancer, accounting for 70% to 75% of all kidney cancers. Here, I outline the current treatment landscape for ccRCC, highlighting what’s new and what’s on the horizon. Surgical removal of the cancerous kidney is most often the first treatment after diagnosis, especially if the tumors exceed 3- to 4 cm in size.… Read more »
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September 1, 2020
Renal Cell Carcinoma—An OverviewBookmark
George Lundberg, MDCurated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:
There are now many precision oncology treatments for the most common type of kidney cancer, renal cell carcinoma, which represents about 3% of all potentially lethal cancers in America. This summary from Medscape details all the traditional treatment approaches, as well as newer considerations.
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August 7, 2020
FDA Approves Merck’s Keytruda, Foundation Medicine CDx for TMB-High Solid TumorsBookmark
George Lundberg, MDArticle from GenomeWeb curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug pembrolizumab (brand name Keytruda) for solid tumors based solely on whether they have a high tumor mutational burden—a high number of changes in the DNA of the cancer cells.
Go to full article published by GenomeWeb.
If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.
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December 13, 2019
New Standard of Care for Metastatic Renal Cell CarcinomaBookmark
George Lundberg, MDArticle from Medscape curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:
This piece describes huge improvements in the standard of care and outcomes from combo therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Go to full article published by Medscape.
If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.
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December 2, 2019
Deciding on the Ideal First-Line Treatment for Rare and Advanced Kidney CancersBookmark
George Lundberg, MDArticle from Targeted Oncology curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:
In recent clinical trials, the drug cabozantinib is being found to greatly increase progression-free survival.
Go to full article published by Targeted Oncology.
If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.
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November 12, 2019
Microwave Ablation Feasible for cT1b Renal Cell CarcinomaBookmark
George Lundberg, MDArticle from Renal and Urology News curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:
Microwave ablation has been shown to be a viable alternative to both radical and partial nephrectomy for kidney cancers that measure less than 7 cm in diameter. Outcomes for the two approaches are comparable.
Go to full article published by Renal and Urology News.
If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.
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Michelle Kendall
Cancer Patient

Hope S. Rugo, MD
UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center
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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February 11, 2020
‘Impressed With Impact’ of Ketamine in Cancer Palliative CareBookmark
George Lundberg, MDArticle from Medscape curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:
Depression is, for obvious reasons, common in patients with advanced cancer. The old, inexpensive drug ketamine—already approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—seems rapidly effective, according to small studies.
Go to full article published by Medscape.
If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.
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October 7, 2019
Emphasizing Oncogeriatrics
With:A Q&A with Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, MD, Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, and Chair of the Young Interest Group of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG); nicolo.battisti@gmail.com Q: Everyone knows that the practice of pediatric oncology is very different from adult oncology. How does the growing field of oncogeriatrics differ from usual adult oncology? A:… Read more »
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December 3, 2018
Best Uses of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Patients with Cancer
With:A Q&A with Val Jones, MD, Medical Director of Admissions, Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane, WA Originally published February 1, 2017 Q: Your principal practice in Spokane, Washington is physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). What do you find to be the best uses of PM&R in patients with cancer at your facility? A: Rehabilitation medicine is one of the best-kept secrets in healthcare. Although the… Read more »
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September 14, 2018
Huge Progress in Palliative Care
With:A Q&A with Diane E. Meier, MD, FACP, Director, Center to Advance Palliative Care; Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY; diane.meier@mssm.edu Originally published November 8, 2017 Q: You wrote in MedGenMed in 2007 that palliative care was the job of all hospitals. In October 2017 you were honored at the National Academy of Medicine for… Read more »
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July 23, 2018
Cancer Pain and the Opioid Epidemic
George Lundberg, MDA Q&A with Kevin Sevarino, MD, PhD, President-elect of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and Consulting Psychiatrist at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford, CT Q: Opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose are huge American problems right now. Many cancer patents experience chronic pain. What is the best way to use opioids to manage chronic pain? [Note: The views expressed below represent the opinion of the author,… Read more »
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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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April 7, 2021
Rankings of Most Common and Deadly Cancer Types Will Shift Over Next Two Decades
In the next two decades, rankings of incidence and death across cancer types will undergo important changes in the U.S., according to new research led by Lola Rahib, PhD, Director of Scientific and Clinical Affairs at Cancer Commons, as well as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) in collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Published today in JAMA Network Open,… Read more »
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March 29, 2021
Can Really Big Data Inform Precise Decisions for Individual Patients?
With:New technologies are transforming cancer research. By optimizing research protocols and leveraging data more efficiently and intelligently, these tools hold the promise to improve personalized cancer care. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Matvey B. Palchuk, MD, MS, FAMIA, VP of Informatics at TriNetX, LLC, about the capabilities of his company’s platform. Curious Dr. George: Translational medicine has evolved to include personalized medicine and… Read more »
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November 10, 2020
How to Learn About Cancer in a Classroom: Shaping Compassionate Doctors
With:The patients and caregivers we serve here at Cancer Commons rely on their doctors to provide expert, compassionate care. Building the skills to give such care can begin early in a doctor’s education. Here, for a change of pace, our Curious Dr. George asks a future doctor about a unique experience that helped her learn how to connect with cancer patients. Marin Langlieb is… Read more »
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September 9, 2020
Is Cancer the Best Way to Die?
With:In 2014, the prestigious medical research journal The BMJ published a controversial piece called “Dying of cancer is the best death.” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks the author of that piece, Richard Smith, CBE, FMedSci, if and how his thoughts on death have since evolved. Dr. Smith was Editor of The BMJ from 1991 to 2004 and is currently Chair of the Lancet Commission… Read more »
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August 21, 2020
The Power of Precision Medicine is Exemplified by Tempus
With:Tempus—a tech company & partner of Cancer Commons—empowers doctors to make data-driven decisions for their patients in real time. Learn how.
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June 29, 2020
Cancer Screening Programs Influence Incidence and Causes of Cancer DeathsBookmark
Lola Rahib, PhDArticle from ASCO Daily News curated by Director of Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Lola Rahib, PhD.
In collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Cancer Commons presented new research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)’s virtual 2020 meeting. The findings show that, by 2040, we will likely see notable changes in which cancer types are most common and which are most deadly, highlighting the influence of cancer screening programs. This research was led by Dr. Rahib at Cancer Commons.
Go to full article published by ASCO Daily News.
If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.
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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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June 10, 2020
How I Cope with the Tsunami of Cancer and COVID-19 Info
With: Kevin Knopf, MD, MPHOncologists worldwide face the challenge of staying on top of the latest treatments, research findings, and other information that could help them treat their patients more effectively. Now, they must do so in the context of COVID-19. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Kevin Knopf, MD, MPH, Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology at Highland Hospital/Alameda Health Systems in Oakland, California, how he keeps up. Dr.… Read more »
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February 20, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination: The VOICE for Patients with CancerBookmark
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-19Bookmark
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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February 20, 2021
NCI-Supported Clinical Trials for CoronavirusBookmark
George Lundberg, MDThis list from the National Cancer Institute outlines many government-supported clinical trials for COVID-19 that may be specifically for cancer survivors.
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February 20, 2021
What Cancer Survivorship Can Teach Us About COVID-19Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDCancer survivors and (especially long) COVID-19 survivors may have a lot in common, as outlined in this opinion piece from STAT.
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August 7, 2020
Clinical Trials Gone VirtualBookmark
George Lundberg, MDArticle from GenomeWeb curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some clinical trials have gone virtual.
Go to full article published by GenomeWeb.
If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.
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