Oncology

Breast cancer patients’ decisions to undergo a preventive mastectomy are often driven by negative emotions associated with the disease rather than rational evaluation of available treatment options. Despite evidence supporting less invasive surgery for early-stage breast cancer, more and more breast cancer patients are choosing to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). CPM involves removing the...

Music therapy is effective in managing anxiety and emotional well-being in women undergoing cancer treatments, according to a recent study. Breast cancer can be a stressful and anxiety-inducing experience for women, especially during diagnosis and treatment. The uncertainty surrounding the illness and the type of treatment can create high levels of emotional distress, impacting both...

Physical activity program intervention is associated with reduced time cost and overall greater efficacy in improving psychological distress and promoting physical activity in young adults and adolescent cancer patients. The majority of young adult and adolescent cancer patients report psychological distress, which can be alleviated by behavioral activation and physical activity. A 2023 study demonstrated...

Personalized exercise programs with motivational features may help promote bone health in childhood cancer survivors who are at risk of reduced bone health. Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at an increased risk for decreased bone mineral density (BMD), related fractures, and other late complications. A randomized controlled trial found that a personalized exercise program may...

Using patient data, a predictive algorithm can identify the risk of progression to multiple myeloma in those with asymptomatic precursor conditions. This algorithm can help clinicians decide when to initiate treatment and which patients require closer monitoring. People with multiple myeloma precursor conditions are likely to develop symptomatic multiple myeloma. Predicting the disease severity of...

Patients with rapidly progressing multiple myeloma showed distinct overexpression of genetic markers related to cancer-facilitating cellular activity. This study sheds light on the variations in disease progression and paves the way for personalized treatment strategies. Multiple myeloma is an aggressive cancer with a low survival rate. Some patients experience more rapid disease progression than others....

Disparities in multiple myeloma care contribute to a mismatch in provider and patient understanding of patient challenges with the disease. By involving patients in the decision-making process, it becomes possible to tackle race-based disparities more effectively. The risk of multiple myeloma is higher in Black/African American individuals. Discrepancies exist among large institutions and community centers...

Physical activity data from patients with multiple myeloma revealed increases in activity after chemotherapy in older patients. Despite multiple myeloma causing pain related to movement, tracking patient activity using digital health technology applications proved valuable in disease management. Multiple myeloma can cause pain related to movement. Tracking patient activity using digital health technology applications is...

Higher rates of vaccination seen in older patients; lower rates seen for metastatic solid tumors, with comorbidities For patients with cancer, age, cancer type, and comorbidity are associated with differential COVID-19 vaccine uptake rates, according to a study published online March 15 in Cancer. Dax Kurbegov, M.D., from the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tennessee,...