Cancer Information Highlights, May 24, 2017

Cancer Information Highlights, May 24, 2017

Cancer Information Highlights

From the National Cancer Institute

Updating you about cancer causes, prevention, screening, treatment, coping, and more

New from NCI Study Estimates Number of U.S. Women Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer   A new study shows an increase in the number of women in the United States living with distant metastatic breast cancer. Patients Are Willing to Report Side Effects in Clinical Trials   A new study finds that cancer patients are willing to spend time to complete detailed assessments of the side effects they have while taking part in a clinical trial, even if they are receiving difficult treatments. FDA Approves Three Immunotherapy Drugs for Patients with Bladder Cancer The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three immunotherapy drugs—avelumab, atezolizumab, and durvalumab—to treat bladder cancer. All three drugs belong to a class of cancer therapies known as checkpoint inhibitors. Counseling Improves the Implementation of Care Plans for Low-Income Survivors of Breast Cancer In a randomized trial, low-income women who took part in a counseling session reported receiving more of their recommended care than women who did not get counseling. Using Trusted Resources This page has been updated to include information on finding trustworthy sources of medical information on social media. Facebook Live Event: Advanced Melanoma Research and Treatment Join us on May 25, 2017, at 12:00 p.m. ET, for a Facebook Live event discussing the current state of research and treatment for advanced melanoma. The subject matter experts will be Dr. Stephanie Goff of the National Cancer Institute and Dr. Jason Luke of the University of Chicago. The event will be moderated by Jamie Troil-Goldfarb, a clinical trial participant and stage IV melanoma survivor. PDQ Summary Updates Childhood Brain Stem Glioma Treatment We’ve updated our PDQ summary on childhood brain stem glioma to include information on the importance of palliative care in children with recurrent cancer. Depression A major revision to our PDQ summary on depression in cancer patients includes updates on risk factors for depression, diagnosis and treatment of depression, and depression in children with cancer. Skin Cancer Screening We’ve revised our PDQ summary on skin cancer screening with updated information from studies that show that skin exams to screen for skin cancer have not been shown to decrease the number of deaths from the disease. Drug Information Updates Avelumab Our avelumab summary has been updated to include a recent approval from FDA. Avelumab is now approved to treat certain types of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, which is a type of bladder cancer.

Also of Interest Bringing Precision to Screening for Cancer Precision medicine applies to cancer screening, in addition to treatment. Read how cancer control and prevention researchers are working to find ways to tell which people are most likely to benefit from regular screening. Liver Cancer This page explains the types of liver cancer and the difference between primary liver cancer and cancer that spreads to the liver from elsewhere in the body. Learn about causes of liver cancer and ways to prevent and treat it. Finding Health Care Services If you have been diagnosed with cancer, finding a doctor and treatment facility for your cancer care is an important step to getting the best treatment possible.