Posts by year
2020
Women make great surgeons, so why is the profession still dominated by men?
Professor Isabel Rubio is a surgeon at the top of her profession. She is Director of Breast Surgery at Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Madrid. She is President-elect of the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) and head of public…
Evidence-based medicine and precision medicine – irreconcilable or inseparable?
"Medicine cannot be learned quickly, because it is impossible for there to exist any established method in it, as for example when someone who has learned to write in one way that is taught then understands everything. Medicine from one…
Cancer survivors need more (and longer) support
After defeating cancer, people are facing other worries, which too often remain unsolved, even though they are seeking for help, according to a Canadian study concluding that it’s time to enhance survivorship care: «Without appropriate support systems in place, these…
COVID – are cancer patients being protected?
This is a particularly worrying time for people going through chemotherapy and other treatments that suppress the immune system. So what advice is being offered by oncology departments and what extra measures are being taken to keep their patients safe?…
How retractions are helping cancer research
In 2015, cancer researcher Anil Potti - back then associated with Duke University in Durham, North Carolina - was found guilty of research misconduct by a US federal investigation led by the office for research integrity of the Department of…
COVID-19: ECCO demands attention to protect cancer patients
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant threat for cancer patients, which deserve to be protected through immediate action on several levels all over Europe, according to a statement published today by the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO). Matti Aapro, President of…
Can we still rely on Omega-3 & Co. for cancer prevention and management?
According to an extensive systematic review recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, there is no evidence for a protective role of polyunsaturated fat (PUFAs) against the risk of cancer. Moreover, a very high intake of total PUFAs could…
Right drug, wrong patient: here’s how we improve our targeting
When it comes to precision and personalised medicine (PPM), clinical practice in oncology takes pride in developing and administering treatments that selectively target components of tumour cells. But, PPM is a model that also takes into account the inherent variability…
COVID-19 and cancer, still more questions than answers
COVID-19 outbreak poses a severe threat to the health of millions of people worldwide, including cancer patients. What do we know about SARS-CoV-2 infection in this specific population? The analysis of data coming from a prospective cohort established by the…
Dino Amadori passes away at the age of 83
Soul and courage: these are the two words italian oncologist Dino Amadori chose in the autobiography he published less than two years ago to describe what guided him alla along his “life against cancer”. Dino Amadori, among the fathers of…