Against All Odds: When the Fear of Cancer Is More Devastating Than the Disease
By Moni Abraham Kuriakose, MD, FRCSFebruary 12 is a special day in the Orthodox Church calendar—Remembrance Day of all who departed from this world. (It almost coincided with Maha Sivaratri on February 18, when Vavu Bali, a Hindu ritual, is carried out for the departed souls. Was it a coincidence?!)
During the sermon, the priest...
Double Test for HPV in Head and Neck Cancer to Optimize Care
Patients with head and neck cancer who have equivocal results on routine p16 assay for HPV should be tested again with a test that measures HPV DNA, say researchers. Medscape Medical News
Ultralow Dose of Nivolumab Offers Huge Cost Savings
A clinical trial from India raises the possibility of huge cost savings by using ultralow immunotherapy doses in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Medscape Medical News
Could Nodal RT Explain Failure of ICIs in Head and Neck Cancer?
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown impressive efficacy in many different cancer types, but not in head and neck cancer: could nodal irradiation blunt the immune response? Medscape Medical News
Taste Dysfunction in Head and Neck Cancer Due to Radiation Dose
Lowering the dose of radiotherapy delivered to the oral cavity could reduce the risk of taste dysfunction in patients with head and neck cancer, say researchers. MDedge News
Head and Neck Cancer Patients Call for Improvements in Care
Patients with head and neck cancer have the highest rates of emergency department use and hospitalization during treatment, and also the highest rates of psychological distress. Medscape Medical News
Blacks With Head and Neck Cancer Likely Have Worse Outcomes
In a retrospective study of racial/ethnic minorities with head and neck cancer, Blacks had worse outcomes, and researchers are not sure why. Reuters Health Information
Negative Results When Immunotherapy Was Added Onto Radiation
A phase 3 trial investigating the addition of immunotherapy to avelumab onto chemoradiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer was stopped early. Medscape Medical News
Financial Toxicity and Survival of Patients With Cancer
Patients with head and neck cancer who reported a high level of financial difficulty were found to have a shorter survival than patients who did not. Medscape Medical News
NHS England Starts Pilot Trial of Blood Test for Many Cancers
Patients with head and neck, pancreatic, and other hard-to-spot cancers could soon have their disease picked up early with a simple blood test if a pilot by National Health Service (NHS) England is a success. Medscape Medical News
