Posts by author
Janet Fricker
Academic oncology: women’s careers at high risk for continued inequality
More than half of women in oncology practice believe their gender adversely affects their prospects for job promotion, especially in academia. The cross-sectional survey, published in JAMA Netw Open (December 30, 2021), found that more academic female oncologists than non-academic…
High-fibre diets associated with improved melanoma immunotherapy response
Melanoma patients eating greater quantities of fibre-rich foods at the start of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy survive longer than patients with insufficient dietary fibre intake. The observational study, published in Science (23 December 2021), reports benefits to be most noticeable among…
Early exercise helps avoid shoulder problems after breast cancer treatment
Introducing a physiotherapy-led exercise programme following treatment for breast cancer reduces upper limb disability. The UK study, published in The British Medical Journal (online 11 November), found no increase in complications, lymphoedema or adverse events for patients allocated exercise. “Our…
Antihistamines could improve efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors
Over-the-counter antihistamines appear to improve outcomes for cancer patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors. The study, reported in Cancer Cell (published online 24 November), found that melanoma and lung cancer patients taking antihistamines targeting the H1 receptor during anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment achieved…
Study provides insights into long-term effects of childhood cancers
People surviving childhood cancers have a higher risk of other morbidities as they grow older. The study, published online The Lancet Regional Health-Europe (14 November), found that a greater burden of disease was experienced by patients receiving combined treatment with…
Study challenges dogma that RCC is biologically radioresistant
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) represents a safe and effective non-invasive treatment for oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The study, published in Lancet Oncology, supports sequential radiotherapy as an alternative treatment option to systemic therapy for oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma.…
Systematic review fills knowledge gaps about metastatic breast cancer
In breast cancer the risk of metastasis is higher among women diagnosed at a younger age, those with larger tumours at diagnosis and those with luminal B breast cancer. The study, abstract 0R-91, presented at the Advanced Breast Cancer Sixth International…
Atlas provides ‘one-stop shop’ for myeloma care information across Europe
Myeloma Patients Europe (MPE) has launched an overview of myeloma and AL amyloidosis treatment inequalities across Europe. The Myeloma Access Atlas, released 19 October, is a platform which has been developed to provide a ‘one-stop’ shop mapping national availability of…
What’s new in lung and colorectal cancer? reports from ESMO 2021
New research findings presented at ESMO 2021 show progress in adjuvant treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a novel inhibitor for HER2+ NSCLC patients, and the latest from the FOCUS 4 adaptive, molecularly stratified, umbrella trial platform, set up to…
Dexamethasone helps cancer patients with non-immunogenic tumours survive longer after surgery
Patients with non-immunogenic cancers, such as breast and gynaecological cancers, who are given the anti-nausea drug dexamethasone during surgery survive longer. The study, abstract 4224, presented at the Anesthesiology 2021 annual meeting, held October 8 to 12, San Diego, found…