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March 9, 2021
How an Expert Would Treat His Own Advanced Lung Cancer
With:A new cancer diagnosis is overwhelming. Patients often ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks lung cancer expert Howard (Jack) West, MD, how he would handle his own diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. Dr. West is a Princeton- and Harvard-educated oncologist with additional training and experience in Boston and Seattle focusing on lung cancer.… Read more »
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January 31, 2022
NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Small Cell Lung Cancer Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDThe nonprofit National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) publishes guidelines for patients to learn more about their diagnosis and their treatment options. Here is their 2022 update for small cell lung cancer.
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November 10, 2021
New Targeted Treatment Options for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in 2021
Emma Shtivelman, PhDChemotherapy was once the only treatment available for metastatic or advanced non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). But the situation has changed dramatically in recent years. NSCLC may harbor mutations that drive cancer development, and many of these mutations can be targeted with precision drugs that inhibit specific mutant proteins. Targeted drugs not only often prolong survival of patients compared to chemotherapy, but they also improve… Read more »
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Gavin Gordon, PhD
Molecular Pathologist
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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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March 22, 2022
Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDEach person with cancer has unique biomarkers that may determine how well specific treatments might work for them. Learn more from this website all about biomarkers, prepared by the National Cancer Institute.
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Some of the most promising new treatments for metastatic lung 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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August 15, 2020
Lung cancer at ASCO20 Virtual Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDResearch highlight from Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:
This year’s virtual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology featured presentations on several different targeted therapies that appear to provide improved outcomes for lung cancer patients.
Go to full research highlight published by Nature Reviews Clinical 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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June 24, 2019
Regional Delivery of Mesothelin-Targeted CAR T-Cell Therapy Creates a Win for Solid Tumors Bookmark
Emma Shtivelman, PhDExcerpt:
“In patients with malignant pleural disease, autologous mesothelin-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy demonstrated clinical benefit with no significant toxicity, outcomes that may be due to the regional delivery of the CAR T cells to the intrapleural cavity rather than conventional systemic delivery. The phase I trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02414269) results were presented at the 2019 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, held March 29–April 3 in Atlanta, Georgia (abstract CT036).”
Go to full article published by Cancer Network on April 10, 2019.
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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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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February 11, 2020
‘Impressed With Impact’ of Ketamine in Cancer Palliative Care Bookmark
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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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 13, 2022
Cancer Commons Adapts to Remain True to Our Mission
With:People facing advanced cancer come to Cancer Commons to ensure they have all the information they need to make their best-possible cancer care decisions. Here, Curious Dr. George asks our CFO & COO Shelley Frisbie about recent updates to our organization. Curious Dr. George: You have been the CFO of Cancer Commons for some time and recently added the COO title and duties to… Read more »
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March 16, 2022
Cellular Aging and the Development of Cancer
With: Kaumudi Bhawe, PhDCancer is so often a disease of older people that a whole medical field, “oncogeriatrics,” exists to address the topic. Deeper understanding of the links between cancer and aging could lead to better treatments. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Cancer Commons Clinical Scientist Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD, about the relationship between cancer and aging processes that occur in individual cells in our bodies—throughout our… 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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