Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for January 2015. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold Cuts Mean Heart Radiation Dose
FRIDAY, Jan. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique is associated with a reduction in the mean heart radiation dose during left breast irradiation, according to a review published online Jan. 7 in the Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences.
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Colorectal Cancer Rates on Rise in Young Americans
FRIDAY, Jan. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although the overall rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) has fallen in recent decades, new research suggests that over the last 20 years the disease has been increasing among young and early middle-aged American adults. Results of the study were published in the December issue of the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology.
Obama to Launch Personalized Medicine Research Initiative
FRIDAY, Jan. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In what could be a significant advance for personalized medicine, President Barack Obama will ask Congress to fund a research program aimed at developing treatments that would be tailored to a patient’s individual genes, the White House said Friday.
Cancer Diagnosis Impacts Patient Adherence to Diabetes Rx
FRIDAY, Jan. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People with diabetes are less likely to take their diabetes medications if they’ve been diagnosed with cancer, researchers report. The findings were published online Jan. 28 in Diabetologia.
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Topical Acne Gel Linked to Methemoglobinemia
FRIDAY, Jan. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of topical dapsone may have led to the development of methemoglobinemia, according to a case study published in the Jan. 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
PDE-5 Inhibitors Tied to Prostate Cancer Biochemical Recurrence
THURSDAY, Jan. 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use after radical prostatectomy is associated with increased risk of biochemical recurrence, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Teledermoscopy Feasible, Effective for Monitoring Nevi
THURSDAY, Jan. 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Teledermoscopy is feasible and effective for short-term monitoring of clinically atypical nevi, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in JAMA Dermatology.
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Real-Time Mobile App Can Improve Sun Protection
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A smartphone application providing real-time advice about sun protection offers some improvement in sun protection behaviors, according to two studies published online Jan. 28 in JAMA Dermatology.
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Benefits Package Important for Attracting, Retaining Staff
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An appropriately-targeted benefits package is crucial for attracting and retaining employees, according to an article published Jan. 22 in Medical Economics.
Current Smoking Reduces Survival in Prostate Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Current smoking reduces odds of survival in prostate cancer, according to a new study published online Jan. 27 in BJU International.
Increase in Biopsies With DCIS, Invasive CA After Mammogram
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For women undergoing screening mammography, there has been an increase in the percentage of biopsies with diagnoses of invasive carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), according to a study published online Jan. 20 in Cancer.
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Core Needle Biopsy Helpful With Cervical Lymphadenopathy
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Core needle biopsy (CNB) is a more sensitive tool than fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for cervical lymphadenopathy evaluation, according to a study published in the February issue of Head & Neck.
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MRI-Targeted Prostate Biopsy May Yield Better Results
TUESDAY, Jan. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Prostate biopsies that combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology with ultrasound appear to give men better information regarding the seriousness of their cancer, according to a new study published in the Jan. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Many Breast Cancer Patients Lack Knowledge of Their Disease
TUESDAY, Jan. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many women with breast cancer lack basic knowledge about their disease, such as their cancer stage and other characteristics, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in Cancer.
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Exercise Regimen Beneficial in Head, Neck CA Radiation Tx
MONDAY, Jan. 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with head and neck cancers undergoing radiation therapy, an exercise regimen is better than a repetitive swallow regimen for swallowing function, according to a study published in the February issue of Head & Neck.
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ASCO Reports Biggest Clinical Cancer Advances for 2015
FRIDAY, Jan. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The biggest clinical cancer advances for 2015 have been identified in an annual report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Hormonal Contraceptives Linked to Higher Risk of Glioma
THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The risk for developing a glioma appears to go up with long-term use of hormonal contraceptives, new research suggests. The findings were published online in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Very Low Yield for Imaging of Both Legs in Suspected DVT
THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT), systematic imaging of both legs has a very low yield, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
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Physicians Rank the Best EHR Systems of 2014
THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians have ranked electronic health record (EHR) systems based on five key performance areas, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Coffee Consumption Linked With Reduced Melanoma Risk
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of malignant melanoma, with a trend toward more protection with higher intake, according to findings published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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More Stressors for Radiation Therapists Than Oncology Nurses
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For occupational groups in cancer care, radiation therapists (RTs) have higher mean scores for stressors and coping strategies than oncology nurses (ONs), according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences.
Incidence of PE Hospitalizations Rises From 2001 to 2010
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of hospitalizations for pulmonary embolism (PE) increased from 2001 to 2010, and a pattern of seasonal variation can be seen in PE hospitalizations, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
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Docs Should Negotiate Health Care Payer Contracts
TUESDAY, Jan. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The terms in health care payer contracts are not immutable, and contracts should be negotiated, according to an article published Jan. 9 in Medical Economics.
Collaboration Between Med Students Cuts Diagnostic Errors
TUESDAY, Jan. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For fourth-year medical students, working collaboratively is associated with a reduction in diagnostic errors, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Therapy Dogs May Help Patients Persevere With Cancer Treatment
TUESDAY, Jan. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for cancer may get an emotional lift from man’s best friend, a new study suggests. The findings have been published in the January issue of the Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology.
Patients Satisfied With Shared Appointments Before Mohs Sx
TUESDAY, Jan. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patient satisfaction is high for shared medical appointments (SMAs) for preoperative consultation regarding Mohs micrographic surgery, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Physicians Hit Barriers in Making Cancer Referrals
TUESDAY, Jan. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many physicians report encountering barriers when referring cancer patients to specialty care, according to research published in the Jan. 1 issue of Cancer.
Mindfulness Intervention De-Stresses Cancer Survivors
MONDAY, Jan. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A brief mindfulness-based intervention has a positive short-term effect on psychological and behavioral measures as well as proinflammatory signal markers in younger breast cancer survivors, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in Cancer.
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Prostate Cancer Mortality Benefit Seen for Family Hx-Based Screens
FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Screening white men with a family history of prostate cancer appears to be associated with a decrease in prostate cancer-specific mortality, according to a study published in the January issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Most Docs Work 40 to 60 Hours Per Week
FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians work long hours, with most working 40 to 60 hours per week and a considerable proportion working 61 to 80 or more hours per week, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Sputum Biomarkers May Help ID Malignant Lung Nodules
FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An experimental test which checks sputum for three microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers of lung cancer was able to distinguish early-stage lung cancer from noncancerous nodules the majority of the time, according to findings published in the Jan. 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
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Teenage Acne Linked to Melanoma in Women
FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There appears to be an association between teenage acne and melanoma, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in Cancer.
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Active Breathing Coordinator Beneficial in RT for Left Breast CA
FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with left breast cancer, radiation therapy with the Active Breathing Coordinator (ABC) can reduce the mean heart dose (MHD) by 20 percent or more, while preserving local control, according to a study published in the January-February issue of Practical Radiation Oncology.
Impact of Medical Scribes on EHR Advancement Discussed
THURSDAY, Jan. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The increasing use of medical scribes should not be a replacement for improving electronic health records (EHRs), according to a viewpoint piece published online Dec. 15 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Insulin Resistance Ups Breast Cancer Risk Regardless of BMI
THURSDAY, Jan. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — After menopause, unhealthy insulin levels may predict breast cancer risk even more than excess weight, new research suggests. The study was published in the Jan. 15 issue of Cancer Research.
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Fewer Surgeries for Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer
THURSDAY, Jan. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fewer U.S. colorectal cancer patients who are diagnosed in the final stages of their disease are having what can often be unnecessary surgery to have the primary tumor removed, researchers report. These patients are also living longer even as the surgery becomes less common, although their general prognosis is not good, according to the study published online Jan. 14 in JAMA Surgery.
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Aerobic Exercise Reduces Fatigue With Radiotherapy for Breast CA
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An aerobic exercise program can reduce fatigue in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Working Long Hours? Beware Risky Alcohol Consumption
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Working long hours may raise the risk for alcohol abuse, according to a new study of more than 300,000 people from 14 countries. The report was published online Jan. 13 in The BMJ.
Race, Ethnicity Impact Breast Cancer Prognosis
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The chances of being diagnosed with early breast cancer, as well as surviving it, vary greatly depending on race and ethnicity, according to a new study published Jan. 13 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Metabolic Sx Tied to Higher Risk of Endometrial Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is associated with higher risk of endometrial cancer, regardless of whether the patient is considered obese, according to new research published in the January issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Research Funding Wanes in the United States, Grows Globally
TUESDAY, Jan. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — America now spends about $117 billion a year on medical research, which is about 4.5 percent of the nation’s total health care expenses, researchers report in the Jan. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Lung Cancer Incidence Down at Higher Altitudes
TUESDAY, Jan. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For every 3,300-foot rise in elevation, lung cancer incidence fell by 7.23 cases per 100,000 people, according to research published online Jan. 13 in PeerJ.
Guidelines Presented for Clinical Documentation in 21st Century
TUESDAY, Jan. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines have been developed for clinical documentation and interrelated issues. The position paper has been published online Jan. 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Moderately Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer in T2DM
TUESDAY, Jan. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The risk of colorectal cancer is moderately increased in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to research published online Dec. 31 in Diabetes Care.
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Providers Urged to Address Patients’ Post-Cancer Concerns
MONDAY, Jan. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many U.S. cancer survivors have unresolved physical and mental health issues long after being cured, according to a study published online Jan. 12 in Cancer.
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Oral HPV16 Appears to Persist Longer in Older Men
MONDAY, Jan. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) infection seems to last a year or more longer in men over the age of 45 than it does in younger men, according to new research published online Jan. 9 in Cancer Prevention Research.
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AMA Reports on How Docs Use Their Free Time
FRIDAY, Jan. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association recently surveyed physicians to find what activities they pursue when not in the exam room.
FDA Approves Novel Anticoagulant Savaysa
FRIDAY, Jan. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Savaysa (edoxaban) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism, and prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
CDC: Occupationally Acquired HIV Now Rare
FRIDAY, Jan. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Documented occupational acquisition of HIV has now become rare in the United States, according to research published in the Dec. 9 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Education Intervention Ups Fruit, Vegetable Intake
THURSDAY, Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A nutrition education intervention can increase fruit and vegetable intake among women with breast cancer, according to a study published in the January-February issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
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Bipolar Androgen Therapy May Boost Hormonal Tx in Prostate CA
THURSDAY, Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A treatment strategy called bipolar androgen therapy — where patients alternate between low and high levels of testosterone — might make prostate tumors more responsive to standard hormonal therapy, according to a small study published in the Jan. 7 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Stroke Risk Up Post-Cancer Diagnosis
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cancer increases the risk of stroke independently of other stroke risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Annals of Neurology.
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Experts Discuss Pros and Cons of Maintenance of Certification
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The pros and cons of the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) are discussed in two articles published in the Jan. 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Time to Treatment Increasing With Head, Neck Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Time to treatment initiation (TTI) is rising for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in Cancer.
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Patients More Satisfied With Autologous Breast Reconstruction
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For women undergoing breast reconstruction, autologous reconstruction leads to higher satisfaction than alloplastic reconstruction, although more women require secondary correction, according to a study published in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Article Highlights Top Technology Challenges for 2015
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The introduction of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) audits, meaningful use 2, and the burdens of technology are the top four technological challenges for physicians in 2015, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Diet Advice for CA Prevention: More Veggies, Less Alcohol
TUESDAY, Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Eating a plant-based diet and limiting alcohol intake may help lower the risk for obesity-related cancers, according to research published online Jan. 6 in Cancer Causes & Control.
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ACS Reports 22 Percent Drop in Cancer Mortality Over 20 Years
TUESDAY, Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Progress in the war against cancer has triggered a 22 percent drop in U.S. deaths over the past two decades, translating to about 1.5 million lives saved, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.
Survival Advantage of ADT+RT in Prostate CA Extends to Older Men
MONDAY, Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Androgen-deprivation therapy with radiotherapy (ADT plus RT) is associated with a survival advantage over ADT alone for older men with locally advanced or screen-detected high-risk prostate cancer, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Article Highlights Top Management Challenges for 2015
MONDAY, Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Considerable challenges are projected to impact practice management in 2015, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Deep Fascia Excision No Help With Cutaneous Melanoma
MONDAY, Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Excision of the deep fascia does not improve the outcome of patients with cutaneous melanomas thicker than 2 millimeters, according to a study published in the December issue of the British Journal of Dermatology.
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Oncologists Not Discussing Supplement Use With Patients
MONDAY, Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fewer than half of oncologists bring up the subject of herbs or supplements with their patients, with many doctors citing their own lack of information as a major reason why they skip the conversation, according to research published in the Dec. 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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