Tag: oncology
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Showing Up: For Myself. For My Patients.
What’s something you’ve done that your past self would be proud of? View all responses There have been times in my life where it has been hard to show up, take the next step, do the next right thing. Times when it would have been far, far easier to throw in the towel and call…
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
It’s that time of year! Breast cancer awareness month. An average woman has a 1 in 8 chance of getting breast cancer in her lifetime or about 13%. Let’s talk a little bit about when breast cancer screening should take place for a woman of average risk: According to the American Cancer Society, women of…
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Using AI to Predict Pneumonitis Risk in Lung Cancer Patients
This is pretty cool- researchers found that AI could do a darn good job of predicting who might develop pneumonitis. This was among non-small cell lung cancer patients who were receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. A bit of background info: Pneumonitis is when lung tissue becomes inflamed and it can make it very difficult to breathe.…
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Oncology Hot Topics-What is BiTE Therapy?
BiTE therapy is becoming more widely used, especially with blood cancers (think things like leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma). It can also be used with certain solid tumors (such as lung cancer). BiTE stands for bispecific antibody therapy. These types of treatments are also known simply as “bispecifics.” While there are different forms of these…
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Same Salary/Same Job/Same Life
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do/with your one wild and precious life?” (Mary Oliver, The Summer Day) I’ve been on a Mary Oliver kick, especially since watching this documentary from PBS that popped up on YouTube. And I’m thinking about the prompt, if the salary was the same, what job would you…
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Infusion Center Questions: “What If I React?”
It’s a question I hear pretty often. “What if I react to my infusion?” Whether it’s an iron infusion, a chemotherapy infusion, or one of the other infusions we give, it’s a valid question. What happens next? Here’s a brief overview of what your nurse will do if you react to your infusion: As soon…
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“Smart Chemo”/Antibody Drug Conjugates and Breast Cancer
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are transforming oncology treatment for breast cancer patients (and other patients, too! They can be used in different cancer treatment regimens.) ADCs are founded in the concept of a “magic bullet,” which was developed by Paul Ehrlich, the founder of chemotherapy treatment. Paul Ehrlich’s work was done over 100 years ago- he…
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3 Cancer Breakthroughs from ASCO 2026 That Could Change Patient Care
And What is ASCO Anyway??? (It’s the American Society of Clinical Oncology.) 1. A New Targeted Drug Doubled Survival in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer This one is exciting. One of the most talked-about presentations at ASCO 2026 involved the investigational drug daraxonrasib for advanced pancreatic cancer. Researchers have been trying to find something that would block…
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GLP-1 RAs and HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer
Some pretty exciting research has come about regarding GLP-1 receptor agonists (think drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy). Researchers studying large populations of women found that GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with a lower incidence of HR+/HER2− breast cancer, improved overall survival, and lower recurrence rates within certain breast cancer populations. GLP-1 stands for “glucagon-like peptide-1”…
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Supporting Your Loved One With Cancer
It can be hard to know how to help someone who is going through cancer. You want to help, but may struggle with what words to say or what to do. It is natural to want to ask, “What can I do to help?” However, many patients might not be able to communicate their needs.…
