Dr. Lauren Weinand

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common risk factor for developing cervical cancer. Vaccines and early screening can prevent cervical cancer from developing. This study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, sought to assess cervical cancer knowledge and cervical cancer prevention and screening practices among Saudi women living in Al Madinah...

Although resource limitations may constrain the ability of physicians to provide palliative care to children with cancer, physician perceptions of palliative care may also have a big impact on which courses of treatment are chosen. This study, published in JAMA Network Open, sought to understand the perception of palliative care among physicians treating children with cancer...

Colonoscopy appointments came to a standstill between March and June of 2020, leading to significant challenges with scheduling with backlogged appointments and a regional hold on elective procedures. Endoscopists faced a much lower capacity for postponed procedures, and only patients showing symptoms were prioritized for appointments. In this study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a...

Testing positive for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations increases the likelihood of developing breast and ovarian cancers before age 70. Prognoses and recurrence rates for individuals with these mutations have been substantially worse than those of patients with breast and ovarian cancer who test negative for these mutations. For those living with BRCA1/2, the ever-present risk...

Though African American women have a lower incidence of breast cancer, they experience higher rates of more aggressive subtypes, increased mortality, and poorer outcomes compared to white women. Additionally, treatment disparities persist, with African American women having lower access to care and poorer treatment response.  Historically, genetic research and clinical trials have included mostly white...

Black women with breast cancer face earlier disease onset, more aggressive disease, and higher mortality rates. Additionally, Black women may deal with racial bias from health care providers and treatment plans that fall below the standard of care. Place of death can be a metric for high-quality care at the end of life as hospital...

Head and neck cancer is the sixth most prevalent cancer, with an annual incidence of more than 600,000 cases and a worldwide mortality rate of 350,000 deaths a year. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are the treatment modalities of choice. Induction chemotherapy (IC) is sometimes advised in select patients based on organ preservation considerations due to...

For advanced prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the cornerstone of systemic therapy. The most common treatment is testosterone suppression and bicalutamide, a nonsteroidal androgen receptor antagonist.  Enzalutamide is a second-generation androgen receptor inhibitor that inhibits nuclear translocation and DNA binding in prostate cancer cells, resulting in increased cytotoxicity. This study, published in JAMA...

Proposed changes to voluntary federal guidelines for prescribing opioid painkillers emphasize that doctors should first try other treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic pain. The non-opioid treatment options suggested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include prescription medications like gabapentin and over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), as well as physical therapy, massage, and...