Contemplating Breast Cancer, Beyond October 2012

I’m optimistic, because it looks as though, in my lifetime, BC treatment will be tailored to each patient. There’ll be less surgery and better drugs.

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer causes, cancer treatment, clinical trials, Future of Medicine, health care delivery, Informed Consent, Medical Education, Oncology (cancer), PathologyTagged , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments on Contemplating Breast Cancer, Beyond October 2012

10 Newly-Defined Molecular Types of Breast Cancer in Nature, and a Dream

The 10 molecular BC categories bear prognostic (survival) information and, based on their distinct mutations and gene expression patterns, potential targets for novel drugs….I wonder if, in a few years, some breast cancers might be treated without surgery.

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer causes, cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, Future of Medicine, Oncology (cancer), Pathology, Science, Under the RadarTagged , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments on 10 Newly-Defined Molecular Types of Breast Cancer in Nature, and a Dream

Cervical Cancer Screening Update: on Pap Smears, Liquid-based Cytology and HPV

The latest issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine contains 2 noteworthy papers on cervical cancer screening. The first, a systematic review of studies commissioned by the USPSTF, looked at 3 methods for evaluating abnormalities in women over 30 years: 1. Conventional cytology (as in a Pap smear; the cervix is scraped and cells splayed […]

Posted in cancer causes, cancer diagnosis, cancer screening, Oncology (cancer), Under the Radar, Women's HealthTagged , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments on Cervical Cancer Screening Update: on Pap Smears, Liquid-based Cytology and HPV

Two Faces of Pancreatic Cancer

Early this week I was saddened to hear of a former colleague’s death from pancreatic cancer. Dr. Ralph Steinman, a physician-researcher at the Rockefeller University, received a Nobel Prize for his work on the innate immune system. For many, news of Ralph’s death at 68 years arrived synchronously with word of his award. Yesterday we […]

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Suggestions to Reduce Errors in Breast Cancer Pathology

A prominent article in yesterday’s New York Times considers some troubling problems regarding inaccuracy in breast cancer diagnosis and pathology. The main point is that some women get needless, disfiguring and toxic treatments after being told they have breast cancer when, it turns out, their condition was benign. My main take is that, whenever possible, […]

Posted in Breast Cancer, Diagnosis, Oncology (cancer), Pathology, Women's HealthTagged , , , , , , 1 Comment on Suggestions to Reduce Errors in Breast Cancer Pathology

Why Blog on OncotypeDx and BC Pathology?

I can’t even begin to think of how much money this might save, besides sparing so many women from the messy business of infusions, temporary or semi-permanent IV catheters, prophylactic or sometimes urgent antibiotics, Neulasta injections, anti-nausea drugs, cardiac tests and then some occasional deaths in treatment from infection, bleeding or, later on, from late effects on the heart or not-so-rare secondary malignancies like leukemia. And hairpieces; we could see a dramatic decline in women with scarves and wigs.

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer treatment, Communication, Diagnosis, Empowered Patient, health care costs, Informed Consent, Pathology, Patient AutonomyTagged , , , , , , , , 2 Comments on Why Blog on OncotypeDx and BC Pathology?

More News, and Considerations, on OncotypeDx

This week I’ve been reading about new developments in breast cancer (BC) pathology. At one level, progress is remarkable. In the 20 years since I began my oncology fellowship, BC science has advanced to the point that doctors can distinguish among cancer subtypes and, in principle, stratify cases according to patterns of genes expressed within […]

Posted in Breast Cancer, cancer treatment, clinical trials, Diagnosis, Informed Consent, Oncology (cancer), Pathology, Patient AutonomyTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment on More News, and Considerations, on OncotypeDx
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