Oncology

In this MD Newsline exclusive interview with cancer researcher Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Ph.D., we discuss some of the challenges and disparities that cancer researchers have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. MD Newsline: What are some of the challenges and disparities that cancer researchers have faced in the wake of COVID-19? Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Ph.D.: “During...

In this MD Newsline exclusive interview with cancer researcher Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Ph.D., we discuss how to improve messaging on prostate cancer screening, breast cancer screening, and cervical cancer screening for African Americans. MD Newsline: How might we improve messaging surrounding prostate cancer screening, breast cancer screening, and cervical cancer screening?  Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Ph.D.:...

Timeliness of treatment is an important metric for multiple myeloma treatment. This study, published in Anticancer Research, focuses on the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on initial treatment delay for patients with multiple myeloma.  The researchers relied on data from the National Cancer Database and included patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 2004 and 2016....

Multiple myeloma primarily affects older adults. Yet, this population is less likely to participate in clinical trials and is thus less likely to benefit from treatment advances. This study, published in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology, focuses on the treatment and outcome differences experienced by younger adults and older adults with multiple myeloma.   The study included...

Patients with cancer have been shown to experience disparate outcomes based on socioeconomic disparities. This study, published in Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy, sought to explore the relationship between socioeconomic status and survival outcomes among patients with multiple myeloma who were not considered for first-line hematopoietic stem cell transplant.  Data were taken from the National Cancer...

Racial minority patients have been found to utilize novel agents for multiple myeloma less often than white patients. This finding has been hypothesized to be the result of increased drug costs and socioeconomic disparities. This study, published in Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia, compared rates of bortezomib and lenalidomide use between Black and white patients with multiple...

In the past two decades, treatment advancements for multiple myeloma have significantly improved patient outcomes. Now, multiple lines of treatment are available, and patients enjoy greater life expectancy. However, not all patients receive treatment in a timely manner, which is needed to avoid end-organ damage. This study, published in JCO Oncology Practice, focuses on disparities in...

Previous research has shown that Black patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) experience worse overall survival than white patients. In an effort to rectify this disparity, researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute sought to determine why Black patients with NSCLC are less likely to undergo surgical treatment. The researchers used ten years of...

Hospice care provides patients with terminal illness with care that lessens the burden of illness and improves quality of life. Approximately 1.5 million Medicare recipients receive hospice care each year. Numbers have steadily increased over the last several years. Of these cases, about 98% involve routine home care services. There is concern as to why...