Advances In Cancer Treatment And Quality Of Life

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Pancreatic Cancer
Article Date: 03 Jun 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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New studies evaluating the latest treatments and quality-of-life improvements for cancer patients were presented at a press briefing of the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

"These studies identify promising new treatments for patients with some of the most hard-to-treat cancers, and new ways to improve patient symptoms and side effects to treatments," said Nicholas Petrelli, MD, medical director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in Wilmington, Delaware, and moderator of the press briefing. "And while much progress has been made in cancer research, both the disease and its treatment can take a toll on patients, so it's critical that we keep looking for new ways to ease discomfort and improve quality of life."

Late-breaking study findings include:

- Vaginal brachytherapy is as effective as external beam radiation therapy at preventing the recurrence of endometrial cancer, and causes fewer side effects.

- Gemcitabine (Gemzar) significantly increases survival for patients who have undergone surgery for early-stage pancreatic cancer - the first time chemotherapy has been shown to benefit these patients. Historically, there have been very few effective treatments for pancreatic cancer.

- The experimental targeted therapy everolimus (RAD001, Cetican) improves progression free survival for patients whose advanced kidney cancer has progressed after other treatments - a finding which could lead to increased use of the drug earlier in the course treatment.

The press briefing also highlighted other research:

- A study evaluating the effectiveness of acupuncture for relieving pain and xerostomia (the inability to produce sufficient saliva, which can severely diminish a person's quality of life) among patients with head and neck cancer.

- A study that examines whether a eugeroic agent (a class of stimulants used to improved wakefulness) can help patients overcome severe cancer-related fatigue, one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment.

For consumer-oriented information on these studies and more than 120 cancer types and cancer-related syndromes, please refer your readers to ASCO's oncologist-vetted patient website, http://www.cancer.net.

American Society of Clinical Oncology

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