Cancer Patients May Not Be Told About Costs of Genomic Testing
As of 2016, more than 200 targeted therapies (also called precision medicines) were available in the United States, and more than 2,000 were in the last stages of development—half of them to treat cancer. For many of these drugs, doctors first use genomic testing of the cancer cells to get an idea of whether the treatment will work. Yet, nearly 1 in 4 oncologists rarely or never mention costs when they talk about the need for genomic testing with their cancer patients, according to a new study led by American Cancer Society (ACS) investigators.
Report: Social Determinants Must Be Addressed to Advance Health Equity
Overall, the rate of people dying from cancer in the United States has been getting lower for about the last 25 years. That progress, though, hasn’t been equitable. Everyone doesn’t have the same access to the advances in cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship. "We need to find solutions for better health where people live, work, and play, not only within the health care system,” said Kassandra Alcaraz, PhD, MPH. She's a co-author of a new report that addressed strategies to reduce these disparities.
Research to Help Women Prevent Breast Cancer or Live Their Best Life With It
These 3 scientists are contributing to research that may help families affected by breast cancer in the future. They're studying the most effective language to include in dense breast notifications after mammography, what makes a cancer cell that’s been dormant—not growing—suddenly reactivate, and the effectiveness of a program to help Latina breast cancer survivors overcome barriers to exercising regularly.
Expert Panel: Physical Activity Helps Prevent Cancer and May Help Cancer Survivors Live Longer
An expert panel on exercise and cancer found such strong evidence that physical activity can help some cancer survivors live longer that they created new exercise guidelines for cancer survivors. They also developed new programs to help ensure that healthcare and fitness professionals can use those guidelines to help make exercise a standard part of cancer treatment. The panel also found evidence that exercise can help prevent some cancers.