If you have cancer or someone in your family has the disease, you will have many questions about the chances of survival. The estimation of how the disease will take form for the patient is referred to as prognosis. So, what exactly is cancer prognosis, and what are the things you should know about it?...
Cancer is basically caused when changes take place in a cell’s DNA. These changes are also referred to as mutations, and they can cause the affected cells to grow without any control. These cells are then known as cancerous cells and can then invade body tissues or crowd out the healthy cells. There are many...
Making the most informed treatment decisions is vital for new patients and their families. Shared decision-making allows patients to have a say in their treatment methods while also allowing healthcare professionals to provide the best individualized treatment possible. Because nobody knows a patient better than themselves, allowing patients a voice in their care can change...
On November 17th, specialists from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Michigan discussed their methods for achieving very high levels of active monitoring during a webinar hosted by the Active Surveillance Coalition. Although active surveillance has been shown to prevent prostate cancer overtreatment, most nations still neglect it. According to American models, cost-effective prostate...
African American patients are more comfortable working with providers of the same race. Still, only about 3% of US oncologists are Black, reducing participation during medical visits. Providers believed African American care could be improved by increasing cultural sensitivity through education and training initiatives and increasing staff diversity. A recent study indicated a need to...
A cancer diagnosis is terrifying, and treatment choices are complex, with profound impacts on finances and quality of life. There are usually several treatment options presented to patients, depending on the patient’s age, other medical conditions, and the severity of the disease. All treatments are associated with their benefits and tradeoffs. As a result, physicians...
October is breast cancer awareness month. This month more than 22,000 people in the U.S. will receive a breast cancer diagnosis. Breast cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in American women, yet many still have misconceptions about the disease. Let’s separate some common myths from facts. Myth #1: Breast cancer only affects women....
October is breast cancer awareness month. About one in eight women will develop breast cancer during her life. Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in American women, second only to skin cancer, but it can also affect men. This month, nearly 22,000 people in the U.S. will receive a breast cancer...
Comorbidity can be summed up in a simple question: “In addition to cancer, what else is wrong with you?” A comorbidity is an existing and unrelated diagnosis at the time of a cancer diagnosis. Common comorbidities include heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Nearly 30 such comorbid conditions occur frequently enough and contribute to treatment...
Shared decision-making and value-based care are emerging approaches to obtaining additional value from patient care. Shared decision-making is the process of interacting with patients who wish to be involved in arriving at an informed, values-based choice among two or more medically reasonable alternatives. It attempts to stimulate collaborative discussion between physicians and patients to better...
