MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'asco'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:10:13 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051095&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36162&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myelomablog.com%2F2011%2F07%2F20%2Fdr-berenson-at-asco-in-june-2011%2F From patientpower.info.  Dr. Berenson talks about Zometa, Vitamin D, Calcium, Stem Cell Transplant and other treatments for multiple myeloma. Myeloma Update from ASCO from Patient Power® on Vimeo. (Source: beth's myeloma blog) beth's myeloma blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051095 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:59:08 +0100 5051095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934740&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F11%2F2011-asco-exelixis-reports-expanded-cabozantinib-xl184-phase-ii-data-for-advanced-ovarian-cancer-six-deaths-reported%2F Exelixis, Inc. reported expanded Phase 2 study data with respect to cabozantinib (XL184) use in advanced ovarian cancer patients at the recent 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. The overall solid tumor Phase 2 safety and tolerability data reference six deaths, including two ovarian cancer patients. Exelixis, Inc. reported expanded Phase 2 study [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934740 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 16:10:03 +0100 4934740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921689&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F09%2F2011-asco-additional-phase-iii-study-data-support-the-potential-role-of-avastin-in-newly-diagnosed-recurrent-ovarian-cancer%2F Positive results from two bevacizumab (Avastin®) phase III clinical studies were presented at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting on June 4. The data reported add to the growing body of evidence in support of bevacizumab use to treat recurrent and newly-diagnosed ovarian cancer. Positive results from two bevacizumab (Avastin®) phase III [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921689 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:15:13 +0100 4921689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902696&cid=t_118571_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbKhZl7DkcDs%2F Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again. We apologize for the delay this morning, but we were having technical difficulties. To cope, we are having downing several cups of stimulation. Now, though, the time has come to tackle those meetings and deadlines. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits, including news from the ASCO meeting. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… A Contraceptive Pill For Men With No Side Effects? (The Daily Mail) Merck And Ariad Drug Delays Sarcoma In Trial (Reuters) UK Pharma Industry In Crisis (Press TV) Roche Says Avastin And Chemo Cut Ovarian Cancer Growth (Bloomberg News) Bristol Melanoma Drug And Chemo Extended Life In Study (Reuters) Pfizer Divestiture May Hurt Its Credit Rating (Bloomberg News) Chinese Drugmaker Cited For Significant Pollution (East D... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902696 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:47:10 +0100 4902696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902643&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F05%2F2011-asco-ec145-demonstrates-85-percent-improvement-in-progression-free-survival-for-treatment-of-platinum-resistant-ovarian-cancer%2F EC145, in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®/Caelyx®) in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, met its primary endpoint by showing an 85 percent (2.3 month) improvement in median progression-free survival in the intent-to-treat population, and a 260 percent (4.0 month) improvement in a subset of folate receptor positive patients. The final EC145 phase 2 clinical study data were presented [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902643 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 05:08:29 +0100 4902643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893809&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F03%2F2011-asco-entremed%25e2%2580%2599s-enmd-2076-demonstrates-clinical-activity-in-recurrent-platinum-resistant-ovarian-cancer-patients%2F EntreMed, Inc. announced that ENMD-2076 demonstrated clinical activity — a six-month progression free survival rate of 19% – when administered as a single agent to platinum drug-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer patients. The announcement is based upon interim phase 2 data presented today at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.  EntreMed, Inc., a clinical-stage [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893809 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 05:10:24 +0100 4893809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893810&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F03%2F2011-asco-matching-targeted-therapies-to-specific-tumor-gene-mutations-key-to-personalized-cancer-treatment%2F Customizing targeted therapies to each tumor’s molecular characteristics, instead of a “one-size-fits-all” approach by tumor type, may be more effective for some types of cancer, according to research presented today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting by the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. In patients with end-stage disease, matched patients achieved a 27% [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893810 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 03:36:14 +0100 4893810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848154&cid=t_118571_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FkTurjNnKuyc%2F And so another working week will soon draw to a close. This is, of course, our signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our modest agenda includes yardwork, hanging with assorted short people and another installment in the ‘Let’s-see-them-before-they-die‘ concert series. And you? Anything special in the pipeline? How about curling up with a good e-book? Or a dinner with a favorite someone? Or maybe just a walk in the park? Whatever you do, have a great time and be safe. See you soon… FDA Approves J&J HIV Med For Combo Use (Reuters) EU OKs Bloodthinner From Pfizer And Bristol (Associated Press) EMA Approves Glaxo And Human Genome’s Benlysta For Lupus (Reuters) Pfizer Truck Robbed On Way To CVS (Securing Pharma) AstraZeneca To Eliminate 135 Jobs In Massachus... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848154 Fri, 20 May 2011 11:39:57 +0100 4848154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841885&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fasco-2011-genetic-biomarker-predicts-taxane-drug-induced-neuropathy%2F A new study has identified the first genetic biomarkers for taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy, a potentially severe complication of taxane chemotherapy that affects nerves in about one-third of patients with cancer receiving such treatment. ASCO Releases Studies From Upcoming Annual Meeting – Important Advances in Targeted Therapies, Screening, and Personalized Medicine The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) today highlighted [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841885 Thu, 19 May 2011 23:39:33 +0100 4841885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841886&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fasco-2011-novel-multi-targeted-agent-cabozantinib-xl184-has-significant-effect-on-several-advanced-solid-tumors%2F Cabozantinib (XL184) demonstrated high rates of disease control in patients with prostate, ovarian and liver cancers. The investigators concluded that cabozantinib exhibits clinical activity in ovarian cancer patients with advanced disease, regardless of prior platinum drug status, as reflected by the high rates of response.  ASCO Releases Studies From Upcoming Annual Meeting – Important Advances [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841886 Thu, 19 May 2011 21:53:46 +0100 4841886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841887&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fasco-2011-maintenance-therapy-with-parp-inhibitors-could-play-important-role-in-treatment-of-recurrent-ovarian-cancer%2F A randomized phase II clinical trial showed that the oral PARP inhibitor drug olaparib (AZD2281), given after chemotherapy, improved progression-free survival in women with the most common type of recurrent ovarian cancer. ASCO Releases Studies From Upcoming Annual Meeting – Important Advances in Targeted Therapies, Screening, and Personalized Medicine The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) today [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841887 Thu, 19 May 2011 18:03:58 +0100 4841887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841888&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2F2011-asco-screening-with-ca-125-transvaginal-ultrasound-does-not-reduce-ovarian-cancer-death-rate-results-in-high-number-of-false-positives%2F Findings from a large, long-term study – the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Screening Trial – showed that using a CA-125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound for early detection of ovarian cancer did not reduce the risk of dying from the disease, and resulted in a large number of false positives and related follow-up [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841888 Thu, 19 May 2011 15:56:18 +0100 4841888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841889&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2F2011-asco-annual-meeting-abstracts-including-ovarian-cancer-made-publicly-available-today%2F More than 30,000 cancer specialists from around the world will gather at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting to discuss the latest innovations in research, quality, practice and technology in cancer. More than 30,000 cancer specialists from around the world will gather at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841889 Wed, 18 May 2011 22:43:10 +0100 4841889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803137&cid=t_118571_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffree-iphone-app-for-cancer-patients-a-must-have-tool-from-asco%2F2011.05.09 Cancer.net, an oncologist approved cancer information site from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), has released a free iPhone and iPad app — full of handy features for cancer patients. The free app allows cancer patients and their family members to look up pertinent information based on cancer type and download a wealth of oncology related information in the form of videos, podcasts, and up to date articles. Where the app truly shines is in there key features: Ability to store questions, medications and symptoms.  The way this app implements these key features is absolutely stunning, and makes the application a must have for cancer patients and their family members. This review will explore these features and how your patients can use this app. Questions (more…) ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803137 Mon, 09 May 2011 22:00:57 +0100 4803137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3816761&cid=t_118571_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7n1Wk8OF9tg%2F In a sharply worded letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the American Society of Clinical Oncology takes the federal agency to task for conducting a coverage review of the Provenge prostate cancer vaccine. You may recall that CMS unexpectedly disclosed plans for a National Coverage Analysis in late June in response to inquiries from regional Medicare programs about the novel therapy. Ever since, CMS has been bombarded with comments from patients, doctors and investors, among others. The vast majority express concern that CMS will somehow limit coverage next year, although a review of the $93,000 annual price tag per patient is not supposed to factor into the review (back story). In his letter, ASCO ceo Allen Lichter complains the reasoning given for the review is wa... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3816761 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:26:29 +0100 3816761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3659120&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fvitamin-d-with-calcium-reduces-cancer.html John A Milner, PhD, Chief of the Nutritional Science Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute presented a talk on vitamin D supplementation at the recent meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago. He stated that current guidelines suggest 400 IU of vitamin D, possibly more for the elderly, up to 600. He also noted that too much vitamin D can be toxic, e.g. 50,000 IU daily for a long time, but that there is probably a safe range between those. He cited the 2007 data from a Creighton University four-year study of 1179 healthy women aged 59-73, all from rural Nebraska. Subjects took 1400-1500 mg calcium and 1100 IU vitamin D daily, and the study was designed to assess the effect on bone health. In a secondary analysis of the ... Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3659120 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:29:00 +0100 3659120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3659121&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fasco-presentation-selenium-and-vitamin.html The government-funded Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) included 36,000 men, each having a PSA of 4 or less, at many different medical centers, for 5.5 years, and cost $100 million dollars. The men took selenized yeast and vitamin E, or a placebo. Eight percent were smokers. Now seven years later, there is no evidence of a reduced risk of ANY cancer, especially prostate cancer, which the researchers expected would be reduced. Other studies had suggested a benefit, and researchers don't know why it didn't appear. The presenter, Eric Klein MD, suggested that we may need to take a more comprehensive approach, evaluating the benefit of whole foods instead of discrete nutrients. He pointed to a rat study showing a benefit from tomato powder where there was no benefit from... Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3659121 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:17:00 +0100 3659121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644767&cid=t_118571_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fclinical-trials-accessing-the-medicines-of-tomorrow-today%2F2010.06.08 Reporting from the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago, empowered patient Andrew Schorr discusses how long it can take before a study is presented at ASCO and the role of clinical trials in giving patients access to the medicines of tomorrow today. What’s Old is New at ASCO from Patient Power® on Vimeo. *This blog post was originally published at Andrew's Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644767 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:00:55 +0100 3644767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641234&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fthree-more-drugs-at-asco.html Several speakers at the ASCO conference mentioned carfilzomib and pomalidomide as the most-promising new drugs in our futures. I posted about those here. At least three other new drugs also show promise: (1) Elotuzumab, (2) Denosumab, and (3) Vorinostat. Elotuzumab is a laboratory-manufactured monoclonal antibody which works against a cell surface glycoprotein, CS1, highly expressed in multiple myeloma (MM). Like the antibodies that our own bodies produce, it attaches to the target protein and kills or disables the cell possessing that protein. It has been tested successfully in Phase I and II trials with both Velcade and Revlimid. In the Revlimid trial, 28 patients with lots of prior therapies experienced an overall response rate of 82%. Not bad. I personally believe that many more monoc... Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641234 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:11:00 +0100 3641234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641235&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fmaintenance-or-not-patient-perspective.html I posted about this three days ago, but have now heard the talks and thought about it some more. At least three different papers at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) make this clear: When a good response (from a transplant or drug combo) is followed by continuous maintenance with a single agent drug, the time of remission may be extended significantly. For example, I get an autologous stem cell transplant (SCT), or I go on a multi-drug treatment, and achieve a "very good partial response" (VGPR) or even a "complete response" (CR). That may be followed by a couple of months of additional drug therapy, such as Velcade or Revlimid with dexamethasone (Dex), to "consolidate" my response and hopefully improve it even more. Then I would LOVE to go on a drug holiday for a while, b... Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641235 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:38:00 +0100 3641235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641236&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Festrogen-in-chicken-and-beef.html Japanese researchers presented a poster titled "Does dietary estrogen intake from meat relate to the incidence of hormone-dependent cancers? (1553)" Unfortunately, they did not answer their own question. They did measure estrogen levels in checken and beef from three countries, however, finding high levels of estrogen in USA chicken and beef. They summarized the work as follows, quoting directly from their abstract: "The high estrogen concentrations in Japanese chicken, USA chicken, and USA beef have been attributed to the residue of external estrogen in the feed given to the livestock. The nearly zero level found in Japanese beef and Brazilian chicken is considered to be natural endogenous amount without estrogen supplementation. The estrogen levels in meat are much lower than those of c... Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641236 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:31:00 +0100 3641236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633584&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fsigns-of-times.html Just a few signs I saw as I ran along Chicago's lakewalk and riverwalk this morning: By the way, I highly recommend Cancer Girl's blog, especially right now since she is at ASCO too. She's funny and insightful. We met her and her runner husband yesterday and were delighted. (Source: Myeloma Hope) Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633584 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 13:33:00 +0100 3633584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633585&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Finnovative-treatment-for-relapsed-and.html Friday night I attended a satellite session hosted by Celgene, the makers of Revlimid and other drugs. Dr David H Vesole, of Hackensack University Medical Center, focused on the newest treatments for myeloma. He said that the two most important tools are Revlimid and Velcade (and he might as well have included dexamethasone (DEX) because it is almost always combined with Revlimid and Velcade). The new kid on the block is all three, termed VRD. In one study it produced a response in 100% of patients, and a very good partial response (VGPR) or better in 75%. That's pretty amazing. Unfortunately, though, 15% of patients experienced severe neuropathy. Other studies suggest that low-dose DEX may work as well, and with once-weekly Velcade instead of twice-weekly, neuropathy may be reduced to a ... Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633585 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:41:00 +0100 3633585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633586&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Folder-patients-are-almost-like-anyone.html The standard of care for newly-diagnosed older patients (60 and over - is 60 elderly?) has been treatment with melphalan and dexamethasone (DEX), especially in Europe. The "novel" drugs, thalidomide, Revlimid, and Velcade have not been used for older patients as much as they might, because there was no data showing that they were safe and effective for older patients. (Are they safe and effective for anyone?) By the way I'm 69, so this is a subject dear to my rickety old heart. Today I saw a poster discussion titled "Elderly patients with lymphoma and myeloma can effectively participate in clinical trials of novel agents." Duh. Also, a recent Italian study shows that Revlimid added to melphalan and DEX improves the response rate and probably the overall survival. Further, when Revlimid wa... Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633586 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:11:00 +0100 3633586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632402&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fasco-headline-maintenance-works.html And so does consolidation. This may be the most important new information for myeloma patients this weekend. ASCO is the American Society of Clinical Oncology, currently holding its annual meeting at McCormick Place in Chicago, 30,000 strong. I am here as a guest of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), to observe the information presented by the many speakers, and to blog about it from the perspective of an ordinary patient. Yay for the IMF! And thank you. I love this stuff. But be advised: I am not a doctor, just an engineer. You should get your medical advice and even your facts from your doctor. The ASH (American Society of Hematology) conference a half-year ago suggested that maintenance works, and ASCO confirms it. What is it? Consolidation is a drug therapy given AFTER a ste... Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632402 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:41:00 +0100 3632402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3592409&cid=t_118571_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9tRmMfqC4sQ%2F Welcome back, everyone. We hope your weekend was pleasant and restful. Now, of course, the routine returns. As always, we are brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation as we map out the week ahead. With meetings and deadlines looming, here are a few items to keep you abreast of events. Hope the days goes well and do stay in touch… Pfizer Gave Union ‘False Hope’ About Facility (The News-Journal) Pharmacists Want Compensation From Glaxo (Stuff.co.nz) Quintiles Lays Off No. Carolina Employees (Triangle Business Journal) ASCO Briefing Highlights Promising Data (PharmaTimes) Contract Pharmaceutical Closing NY Plant, Axing 260 Jobs (Associated Press) WHO Says EU Drug Seizures Were Improper (The Hindu) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3592409 Mon, 24 May 2010 11:53:08 +0100 3592409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3589021&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D4100 Yesterday, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) made available more than 4,000 medical abstracts which are publicly posted online at www.abstract.asco.org. A hyperlink to the 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting ovarian cancer abstracts is provided below.  The ASCO Annual Meeting will be held June 4-8, 2010 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Yesterday, the American [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3589021 Sat, 22 May 2010 00:08:58 +0100 3589021 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538091&cid=t_118571_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-science-based-view-of-the-complexity-of-cancer%2F2010.05.06 [Recently] I participated in a panel discussion at the Northeast Conference of Science and Skepticism (NECSS) with John Snyder, Kimball Atwood, and Steve Novella, who also reported on the conference. What I mentioned to some of the attendees is that I had managed to combine NECSS with a yearly ritual that I seldom miss, namely the yearly meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting. There are two huge cancer meetings every year — AACR and the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO). AACR is the meeting dedicated to basic and translational research. ASCO, as the word “clinical” in its name implies, is devoted mainly to clinical research. Personally, being a translational researcher myself and a surgeon, I tend to prefer the ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538091 Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:09 +0100 3538091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512799&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F18%2F2009-asco-annual-meeting-highlights-ovarian-cancer-select-general-issues%2F The 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting was held in Orlando, Florida from May 29 through June 2, 2009.  We provide below select highlights from the 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting that relate to ovarian cancer and other general issues. The 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting was held in Orlando, [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512799 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:11:35 +0100 2512799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2453084&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36162&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomablog.com%2F2009%2F06%2F01%2Feight-lethal-cancers-myeloma%2F A blog reader sent this to me, and I wanted to pass it on. Hi Beth, I follow your blog and thought you might be interested to know about a new initiative launched by a coalition of patient advocacy organizations during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).  Led by the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), MDS Foundation and the Tackle Myeloma Foundation (TMF), they unveiled a patient “Statement of Principles” to address the inequalities in reimbursement of cancer therapies. Currently, Medicare and private insurance companies require higher deductibles and co-payments for oral drugs than for IV therapies and inpatient procedures.  However, private insurance is regulated at the state level and Oregon, Indiana and Iowa have laws requiring equal coverage with similar legisl... beth's myeloma blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2453084 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:33:55 +0100 2453084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2453074&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F31%2Fearly-treatment-of-recurrent-ovarian-cancer-based-upon-rising-ca-125-levels-does-not-increase-survival%2F “European researchers report [at the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting being held in Orlando, Florida from May 29 through June 2nd] that starting treatment early for an ovarian cancer relapse based on CA125 blood levels alone does not improve overall survival, compared with delaying treatment until symptoms arise.” PLENARY PRESENTATION SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1:45 [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2453074 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:41:47 +0100 2453074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2415713&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F16%2Fginger-quells-cancer-patients-chemotherapy-related-nausea%2F “People with cancer can reduce post-chemotherapy nausea by 40 percent by using ginger supplements, along with standard anti-vomiting drugs, before undergoing treatment, according to scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center. …” People with cancer can reduce post-chemotherapy nausea by 40 percent by using ginger supplements, along with standard anti-vomiting drugs, before undergoing treatment, according [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2415713 Sat, 16 May 2009 23:21:44 +0100 2415713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2408597&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F14%2F2009-asco-annual-meeting-abstracts-now-available-online%2F The 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) will be held in Orlando, Florida from May 29 through June 2, 2009. The ASCO Annual Meeting will be a forum for cutting-edge scientific and educational developments in oncology with a focus on personalizing cancer care.  The medical abstracts that will be presented [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2408597 Fri, 15 May 2009 01:54:42 +0100 2408597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2381062&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F30%2Fwomen-of-diverse-ethnic-ancestry-have-similar-risk-of-carrying-brca-mutations-as-those-with-western-european-ancestry%2F ” …The study, performed by researchers at Philadelphia’s Fox Chase Cancer Center and Myriad Genetics, Inc., analyzed the prevalence of BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations in patients of different ethnicities at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The study included test results of 46,276 women during the ten-year period from 1996 to 2006. Study subjects encompassed [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2381062 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:12:40 +0100 2381062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349513&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F19%2Ftumor-promoting-protein-cox-2-is-the-target-of-first-joint-symposium-between-aacr-asco%2F “An inflammatory protein implicated in a variety of cancers is the target of the first joint symposium between the nation’s two premier cancer research organizations.  The presidents of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) organized the session focused on the COX-2 enzyme and cancer treatment Monday [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349513 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:03:52 +0100 2349513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349576&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35294&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psa-rising.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F04%2Fasc0-2009-annual-meeting-abstracts-online%2F Abstracts for presentations to be made at this year’s annual general meeting of ASCO, The American Society of Clinical Oncology, are now online. For prostate cancer abstracts go to Genitourinary Cancers Symposium and browse 226 titles under Early/Localized disease, Locally Advanced/Recurrent/Advanced disease, and Biology and 224  titles under Epidemiology, Risk factors, Prevention, and Health Services Research The meeting is scheduled [...] (Source: psa-rising.com/blog) psa-rising.com/blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349576 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:13:10 +0100 2349576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2040532&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36162&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomablog.com%2F2008%2F12%2F15%2Fexciting-multiple-myeloma-data-at-ash%2F This is from a reader. Subject: Exciting Multiple Myeloma Data at ASH Message: Hi Beth, Here are some data highlights from The 50th Annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting this week: Updated results from the ECOG study evaluating Revlimid plus low-dose dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients was presented by Dr. Rajkumar in a joint symposium of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and ASH.  The results are the highest 3 year overall survival rates ever reported in this patient group. Data presented by Dr. San Miguel showed that relapsed/refractory patients who received continuous treatment with Revlimid and dexamethasone after achieving their best response lived longer and had increased time to disease progression compared to those who discontinued treatment after ten ... beth's myeloma blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2040532 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:06:46 +0100 2040532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1577215&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fone-way-to-keep.html One tried-and-true method that PR people use to keep a story from seeing the light of day is to ignore the reporter's requests for a comment or response. Because then, if you run the story without their input, they can claim that it's biased--even though they refused to reply to questions or a request for an interview in a timely fashion. I believe this was the ASCO PR folks' strategy when I wanted a reponse from them to my posts about the Abigail Alliance being kept off a panel about off-protocol use of new cancer treatments. It took the PR people more than two weeks to reply to my repeated requests for comment, and then when they did reply, it was a non-answer answer. See: A Non-Answer From ASCO Professional PR people respond to media requests within a few hours, typically, even i... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1577215 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:08:36 +0100 1577215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1535665&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fa-non-answer-fr.html When is the answer to a question not an answer? When it doesn't answer the question, of course. There may be a lot of words there, as in the answer I finally received from ASCO's PR people, but there's not a lot of content. Let's see if you can decode it. But first, the question. I e-mailed ASCO on June 2, asking why ASCO refused to allow a representative of the Abigail Alliance to join a panel at the annual meeting on giving patients cancer drugs off-protocol. (Here's more about that: ASCO Is Ignoring Me) Finally, after several e-mail nudges, I received this reply on Wednesday, June 18--more than TWO WEEKS after I first asked for comment (Note to ASCO management: Fire your PR people): Dear Ms. Sather, Thank you for your e-mail inquiring about the session on Access to Investi... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1535665 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:00:55 +0100 1535665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1516383&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fasco-stalls-res.html Here's the e-mail I finally received from ASCO, 10 days after I first e-mailed asking for comment on the Abigail Alliance controversy during the ASCO annual meeting in Chicago. They didn't respond until I had e-mailed twice, and now the PR person is telling me that she has forwarded my e-mail to the policy folks. We'll see how soon they respond. You can bet that if I were working for the Wall Street Journal, or Newsweek, as I used to, I would have a response within the day! Hi Jeanne, I'm sorry no one has gotten back to you yet. I forwarded your email to the policy side of our department and they should be getting back to you today. [Which would have been the 12th; no answer yet] Unfortunately, we did not get your email until we had returned from the Annual Meeting because this email ... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516383 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:00:25 +0100 1516383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1516384&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fabigal-alliance.html The Abigail Alliance has a really good contributed editorial in the Wall Street Journal. It was written by Steven Walker (who had responded to my questions about the ASCO controversy, see below) and Ronald Trowbridge. The piece uses Senator Kennedy's brain cancer diagnosis as a news hook, a strategy that I am opposed to, but as a former mainstream journalist I know how essential that news hook is. It says, in part: "Most people receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis die before the most promising treatments in the pipeline reach them. Why? Because those tragic events occur on the wrong side of the magical moment when someone at the FDA puts an approval letter on a fax machine declaring the drug they needed – and never got – is 'safe and effective.'" Read the entire story: How t... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516384 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:33:01 +0100 1516384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1508095&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fpay-cancer-pati.html Several years ago, a major clinical trial to compare prostate cancer treatments had to be canceled because not enough men with the disease enrolled in the study. The oncologist who told me about this said that the reason was men refused to be randomized between the radiation therapy and surgery arms of the trial. (An "arm" is a group.) I'm not a scientist, but I fail to see why the researchers couldn't have done a "case-controlled" study, where they matched each man who chose surgery with a man of similar age, general health, and race (or whatever other characteristics they were interested in) who chose radiation therapy. Guinea Pig Phobia For various reasons, cancer patient participation in clinical trials is low--only about 5 percent of adult cancer patients. This is a problem for r... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1508095 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:12:14 +0100 1508095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1508097&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fasco-is-ignorin.html Here's the e-mail that I sent to the ASCO PR folks on June 2: To: communications@asco.org Question about Abigail Alliance Hi--I attended a panel yesterday about giving patients cancer drugs off-protocol, and was told that ASCO refused to allow a representative of the Abigail Alliance to join the panel. Can you comment please, for publication on my blog? I'm at ASCO now, and will be checking e-mail throughout the day. Thanks, Jeanne Jeanne Sather The Assertive Cancer Patient www.assertivepatient.com I'm resending the e-mail today (june 11), and we'll see if they reply. The folks at the Abigail Alliance responded within a day. Read more: The ASCO Notebooks @ Jeanne Sather 2008. (Source: The Assertive Cancer Patient) The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1508097 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:09:08 +0100 1508097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1499813&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fthe-asco-notebo.html Here are the links to all of my posts about ASCO, in chronological order, from April 18 to the present. More to come: I still have lots to write about. ASCO and a Better Mood An Answer From ASCO, Sort Of Time to Come Clean Asco: Arrived in Chicago ASCO: Amazing Organization The ASCO Dress Code ASCO: Herceptin Headlines ASCO: Tykerb Warning Censorship Controversy at ASCO Sunday Highlights ASCO: The Exhausted Cancer Patient If You're Trying to Reach Me ... ASCO Controversy: The Abigail Alliance Responds Boycott Clinical Trials? Support this blog: the donate button @ Jeanne Sather 2008. (Source: The Assertive Cancer Patient) The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1499813 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:18:16 +0100 1499813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1499814&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fboycott-clinica.html Here's a question: Should we consider boycotting clinical trials until the FDA sees sense on the off-protocol issue? Don't know what I'm talking about? Read these two posts, and then post a comment below and tell me what you think. Censorship Controversy at ASCO ASCO Controversy: The Abigail Alliance Responds Remember, they (drug companies and cancer researchers) can't do it without us (cancer patient guinea pigs). Because the law says that no new cancer treatment can be used until it's tested on human subjects. Again, that's us. The public has been very slow to get this, and participation rates in clinical trials are very low. (See: Soapbox No. 4: NIMBY to the Max) In general, I support participation in clinical trials, and I've taken part myself several times over the almost 10 ye... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1499814 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:43:20 +0100 1499814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1499815&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fasco-controvers.html I talked to Steve Walker of the Abigail Alliance on the phone while I was still at ASCO, but then ran out of energy before I got this post up. So here it is, better late than never. Also, this debate is just heating up, as far as I can tell. So those of you with a thing for lobbying and jumping into the public debate, please consider doing so on this issue: Giving cancer patients new drugs off-protocol (vs. forcing them to get new or experimental treatments ONLY in clinical trials). My earlier post was about a session titled “Access to Investigational Drugs Off-Protocol: What Do We Owe Patients?” chaired by a great doctor I know from Seattle, Tony Back. After the panel, Tony told me that ASCO had refused to let a representative of the Abigail Alliance speak as part of the panel. To... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1499815 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:19:36 +0100 1499815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1497325&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fif-youre-trying.html If you're trying to reach me, the best way right now (and normally, too) is to e-mail me at jeanne.sather@gmail.com. It took me two days to get home from ASCO on USAirways (which was having a VERY BAD couple of days getting its passengers where they wanted to go) for various reasons and I'm pretty exhausted. So I need to take it easy as I slowly get back up to speed--answering voice mail, paying bills, sorting out all sorts of paperwork, doing laundry, catching up with my dog, who isn't home yet, and then writing lots more about ASCO. And of course I haven't seen either of my two sons yet, although Younger Son and I talked on the phone yesterday. Older Son is not returning my calls, for reasons yet to be determined. And I need to catch up with Car Guy. I'm making him an ice cream sunda... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1497325 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:04:01 +0100 1497325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488053&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fasco-the-exhaus.html The ice cream sundae in this photo was my room service dinner Monday ight, after I dragged myself back to the hotel. Nutrition Police--no e-mails, please. I NEEDED this dish of ice cream (Hagen daz vanilla and chocolate plus caramel sauce, whipped cream, and four cherries--it cost me almost $10). I only ate one of the cherries, however. I try to avoid Red Dye Number Whatever-it-was. I also downed two tall glasses of ice water, because I knew I was dehydrated, and I didn't want to repeat my blacking-out experience, especially since I am here on my own. So I ate my $10 bowl of ice cream and talked to Car Guy on the phone. He is picking me up at SeaTac airport at midnight tonight--what a lovely guy! A huge part of his charm is that he doesn't realize what a great guy he is. After a lon... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488053 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:11:21 +0100 1488053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488054&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fsunday-highligh.html Waiting for the shuttle bus outside my hotel Sunday morning, I was approached by a guy who wanted to tell me his story. (Do I have a sign on my forehead that says, “Talk to me, I’m a writer”? Or is it that I like talking to strangers, and it shows?) In any case, this guy told me that he had attached a sticker to the glass entrance door of the hotel (where he was also staying), hoping to attract the attention of some of the ASCO attendees at the hotel. He said he put up the sticker several times and the hotel staff kept taking it down. Finally they kicked him out of the hotel and told him to leave the property. I don’t know what he was still doing with his truck parked out front at about 10 a.m., my bus came and I didn’t get to ask that question. But I did get his card, so I... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488054 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:22:43 +0100 1488054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1484813&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fcensorship-cont.html This morning I attended a session titled “Access to Investigational Drugs Off-Protocol: What Do We Owe Patients?” chaired by a great doctor I know from Seattle, Tony Back (who was dressed in the official ASCO uniform, by the way). I stood up to make a comment or two during the question period, and I was not alone in arguing that these drugs should be available to cancer patients who have no other good options. Most of the people who commented or asked questions of the panel were clearly in favor of giving cancer drugs to patients off-protocol. They included Dr. Emil J. Freireich from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, who spoke very eloquently. Dr. Freireich and I chatted after the session, and he asked me what treatment I was getting, and he told me that Dr. Livingston had be... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1484813 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:40:06 +0100 1484813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1481795&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fasco-tykerb-war.html I was strolling through the Exhibit Hall at ASCO this afternoon, picking my targets for tomorrow and scoping out the freebies (I plan to collect drug company freebies and use them for prizes in my How Drug Cos. Spend Their (Obscene) Profits contest), when I spotted the Tykerb display. There, next to backlit blowups of various Tykerb ads, was a stack of updates on the drug, which I've been taking since Thanksgiving. Well, "update" isn't quite accurate; "warning" is probably a better word. The warning says that the Food and Drug Administration has informed GlaxoSmithKline that a "Boxed Warning" will be added to the prescribing information for Tykerb. The warning is about hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity? That's a word I've never seen before, but I'm going to be wary of any word that ends... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1481795 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:40:10 +0100 1481795 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1481796&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fasco-herceptin.html Here's a roundup of news stories about Herceptin, most of them reported from ASCO, where I am. I wasn't here on Friday (I was waiting out the Chicago area's thunderstorms, hail, and tornado watches from the safety of SeaTac Airport in Seattle), and I'm not sure if I would have gone to the sessions on Herceptin since it's all pretty much what I would have expected. I took Herceptin in combination with other drugs for more than six years, and it definitely prolonged my life. Plus, because Herceptin is a targeted therapy, I had better quality of life than when I was on conventional chemo drugs, such as Taxol or Navelbine. Note the language used in reporting these stories, in particular, the headline: "Cancer drug Herceptin can prolong sufferers' lives." I prefer not to think of myself... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1481796 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:55:49 +0100 1481796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1481797&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fthe-asco-dress.html There is an ASCO dress code! I should have expected this, but of course I was only thinking about what I should wear, not what everyone else would be wearing. However, there is clearly an ASCO dress code, and very few (say 5 percent or fewer) of the people I saw were not wearing one of the following: 1. A dark suit with shirt and tie (the preferred look for both men and women, although most women skipped the tie). 2. Khakis with a long-sleeved shirt (sleeves rolled up) in either stripes or plaid. Almost all of the shirts were in muted shades of blue. I saw a few women wearing running shoes with their suits. I saw one or two women (out of 30,000 people) in red, which really stood out. Cleavage seems to be a no-no, although one of the women in red was also displaying her bouncing c... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1481797 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:04:08 +0100 1481797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1481798&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fasco-amazing-or.html I walked out of my hotel this morning at about 10:45 to catch a shuttle to McCormick Place, where the ASCO meeting is being held. The shuttle bus arrived not two minutes after I walked out the front door (buses were supposed to come every 15 to 17 minutes), and at first I was the only passenger. Being me, I chatted with the bus driver, who had come up from St. Louis, Missouri, with a group of buses and drivers to help ferry the oncologists and other folks back and forth from hotels to the conference site. We made the one hour trip to downtown with only four passengers on the bus. The driver told me that there were 40 buses on my route, Route 14, and that they just kept driving the loop from hotels to McCormick Place all day long. With 16 shuttle bus routes in all, there are hundreds of ... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1481798 Sat, 31 May 2008 23:17:06 +0100 1481798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1482289&cid=t_118571_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F302184559%2F A clinical trial of 1,125 lung cancer patients who were treated with ImClone Systems’s Erbitux and chemo lived about five weeks longer than patients treated with chemo alone, according to a study released at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. Here is the abstract. The results could make Erbitux, which is currently approved for colon tumors and head and neck cancer, the preferred therapy for half of non-small cell lung cancer patients who can’t take Genentech’s Avastin due to side effects. Patients getting Erbitux plus standard chemo had a median survival of 11.3 months, compared with 10.1 months for those given only chemo. In all, 36.3 percent responded to the combo, compared with 29.2 percent who improved after getting only chemo. Erbitux increased survi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1482289 Sat, 31 May 2008 15:58:57 +0100 1482289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480559&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fasco-arrived-in.html I arrived here at the Hyatt Rosemont in Chicago last night after almost a three-hour delay leaving Seattle. None of us at Gate D-6 were complaining about the delay, however, not when we heard the reason--thundershowers, hail, and tornado warnings (or watches, I forget which) in the Chicago area, which would have made it tricky to land. By the time we did fly, everything went smoothly, but I watched the TV news last night at the hotel (while eating a room service dinner of Cobb salad and garlic mashed potatoes--yum! comfort food) and heard mention of 13 tornados and hail stones the size of grapefruit! That tickled my funny bone, because it's usually tumors that are compared to fruit, including grapefruit. See: Cancerous Fruit Jet lag kept me in bed until 9 a.m. (7 a.m. back home in S... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480559 Sat, 31 May 2008 14:51:14 +0100 1480559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480945&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F301292159%2F What: ASCO 2008 Annual Meeting When: May 30-June 3, 2008 Where: McCormick Place — Chicago, Illinois USA The ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Annual Meeting is considered the premier educational and scientific event in the oncology community. Abstracts from the said meeting is now available online. Tags: American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASCO, ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago, clinical oncology, oncologyShare This (Source: Cancer Commentary) Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480945 Fri, 30 May 2008 14:29:52 +0100 1480945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478214&cid=t_118571_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F300773805%2F Potential advances in the treatment of lung cancer will be a major focus as the American Society of Clinical Oncology gets under way in Chicago on Friday. In particular, ImClone Systems will unveil long-awaited results from a pivotal trial of its Erbitux drug, in combination with chemotherapy, in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer, Reuters writes. The drugmaker has already said its Flex study met its main goal of boosting survival, but what is not clear is how much longer patients were shown to live. “The Flex study will be one of the most important presentations at ASCO,” Roy Herbst, chief of thoracic oncology at Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, tells Reuters. “Lung cancer doctors and patients would like to know more details.” The Chicago m... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478214 Thu, 29 May 2008 20:28:10 +0100 1478214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1477781&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F05%2Ftime-to-come-cl.html This post could also be titled, "The Stupid Cancer Patient," except I don't think my actions over the past week or so were necessarily stupid--I just prioritized and did the things that were most important to me. You probably read that sentence and thought, "What the heck is she talking about?" So, backtrack nine or 10 days now. On Sunday I took the train to Oregon, to Corvallis, where I was going to give three presentations. Dee, who teaches at OSU, had set up these presentations for me, and I was going to stay at her house. Wonderful house guest that I am, I got up during the night on Sunday to use the bathroom, and passed out cold on the bedroom floor, hitting my head a terrible crack on the way down (I hit the edge of the bedroom door). When I tried to get up, I fell again, and ... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1477781 Thu, 29 May 2008 19:35:11 +0100 1477781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1396108&cid=t_118571_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fan-answer-from.html As I mentioned the other day, I didn't receive a grant to go to Chicago for the ASCO annual meeting as a patient advocate. Maybe I have a huge ego, but I really thought I wrote a good application and I would get a grant. So that was disappointing. I still plan to go, but it's a lot of money for me, since my income is primarily from SS Disability. Anyway, for future reference, and because I was curious, I e-mailed and asked what kind of patient advocates they gave grants to, and how many they gave this year. Here was my e-mail, to Jeannine M. Salamone, who is senior program manager, Communications & Patient Information, for ASCO, the American Society of Clinical Oncology: Jeannine—Hi. I was wondering what kind of patient advocates you gave grants to—were they “professional” pat... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1396108 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:10:28 +0100 1396108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1379581&cid=t_118571_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F272347252%2F A year after approval of the Provenge prostate-cancer vaccine was delayed by the FDA, a determined group of prostate-cancer patients - and some investors, too - plan to stage a series of nationwide protests that will include the largest annual gathering of oncologists, two organizers tell us. The events are planned by a non-profit called Care To Live, which is battling the FDA in court in what has, so far, been an unsuccessful attempt to force the agency to reverse course. The specter of a protest is likely to unnerve the American Society of Clinical Oncology, because threats were allegedly made at last year’s event against two cancer docs who were dissenters on the FDA panel that recommended approval for Provenge. After the FDA panel meeting, those two docs - Howard Scher of Sloan-K... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1379581 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:28:50 +0100 1379581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=693217&cid=t_118571_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F6%2F25%2Fwomen-with-breast-cancer-can-lower-their-risk-of-dying-by-50.html It has been well-documented that women could reduce their risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer by eating vegetables and fruits, exercising and keeping a non-obese BMI (>25). But the pervasive feeling among physicians (yours truly included) was that once cancer is diagnosed, changes in life style are too little too late. But a recent study (Journal of Clinical Oncology, vol. 25, pp. 2345-2351, 2007) looked at this issue, and the results were totally unexpected. How the study was done A prospective study was performed of 1,490 women diagnosed and treated for early-stage breast cancer between 1991 and 2000. Enrollment was an average of 2 years postdiagnosis. An analysis of the effect of interaction between different factors on survival (called multivariate analysis) found t... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=693217 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:32:52 +0100 693217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=687113&cid=t_118571_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fnot-all-drugs-benefit-all-man.html While Bertalan Mesko at ScienceRoll is introducing us to the best medicine 2.0 tools, i am reviewing some results from the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting last week.In another example of how we need to examine patients pharmacogenomics prior to instituting therapy the SWOG (South Western Oncology Group) in the U.S. releases results of a collaborative effort with two clinical groups in Japan (Japan Multinational Trial Organization). The researchers were interested in how these different groups metabolized certain chemotherapeutic agents Paclitaxel and Carboplatin. Now what is interesting about this study presented at the ASCO conference is the fact that they were able to isolate two gene polymorphisms responsible for these effects. In patients with certain variations in the CY... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=687113 Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:14:00 +0100 687113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=637784&cid=t_118571_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F5%2F23%2Fwho-is-afraid-of-immigration.html In case you were asleep in the last 10 years, here are two news items: The U.S. is getting progressively more stupid in science and engineering.We are shooting ourselves in the foot by making the problem even worse.The grim factsThe facts are well-known.· Our educational system is in a shambles. Our children score consistently low in international tests in math and science. Some third world countries are ahead of us. · We are not graduating nearly enough engineers and scientists to satisfy the needs of the technology and biotechnology industries. · Several technology companies stated that they opened research and engineering centers in countries like Israel, India, and China not because salaries are lower there, but because those countries could provide the brain power... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=637784 Thu, 24 May 2007 04:17:10 +0100 637784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=611525&cid=t_118571_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F5%2F11%2Fmedicine-and-profits-an-unwholesome-alliance.html  “Oh Lord, lead me away from temptation… but not quite yet. St. Augustine . The New York Times in its May 9, 2007 issue, published a front page article about oncologists prescribing excessive amounts of anemia drugs to cancer patients on chemotherapy. The statistics are enlightening: the higher the “compensation” or monetary inducements offered to the oncologist-the higher the frequency and dosage prescribed. As they say on the TV commercial, “this drug is not for everyone”. Inappropriate prescription can actually cause harm, and recent studies showed that inappropriately high doses result in increased mortality. Response The American Society of Clinical Oncology distributed a letter to the members.  ASCO Responds to New York Times Article Add... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=611525 Sat, 12 May 2007 05:12:29 +0100 611525