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Metastasis Risk in Postpartum Breast Cancer: An Interview With Virginia Borges, MD, MMSc
Sarah Williams, MAT
Expert Analysis
​In their previous research, Virginia F. Borges, MD, MMSc, and colleagues identified an increased risk of metastasis for women diagnosed with breast cancer within five years after giving birth. However, in their latest study, Dr. Borges and her fellow researchers from the University of Colorado Cancer Center and Oregon Health & Science Universi...
Using Acupressure to Manage Anxiety, Depression, and Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors: An Interview With Suzanna Zick, ND, MPH
Emily Levitch
Expert Analysis
Breast cancer survivors are at an increased risk of developing a myriad of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue. Acupressure has been practiced for thousands of years as part of traditional Chinese medicine. In a recent study, Suzanna Zick, ND, MPH, and colleagues have demonstrated that acupressure decreases symptoms of depres...
Advances in the Personalized Management of RCC With Brian I. Rini, MD, FACP
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
Based on recent estimates, kidney cancer accounts for approximately 4% of all cancer diagnoses in the United States. An estimated 65,300 new cases are reported each year and more than 14,000 people die of the disease. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which comprises nearly 90% of all kidney cancers, is characterized by a lack of early warning signs, div...
Current Challenges and Promising Advances in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer With Ursula Matulonis, MD
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
Ovarian cancer accounts for 5% of cancer deaths among women in the United States and causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. An estimated 22,240 new cases are diagnosed annually, and 14,070 people die of the disease. Relative survival varies by age; women younger than 65 are much more likely to survive 5 years (7...
Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Treatment Challenges and Best Practices With Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of unknown origin that typically presents in older white and immunocompromised adults. An estimated 1,500 cases are diagnosed in the United States annually. The rapid rise of MCC incidence during the past few decades has been attributed in part to people living longer with in...
Mark Socinski, MD: First-Line Atezolizumab in Metastatic NSCLC
Sarah Williams, MAT
Lung Cancer
Mark A. Socinski, MD. In an interview with i3 Health, Mark A. Socinski, MD, shares insights regarding the recent FDA approval of atezolizumab (Tecentriq®, Genentech, Inc.) in combination with carboplatin/paclitaxel/bevacizumab for patients with previously untreated metastatic nonsquamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without EGFR or ALK tumor mutations. Dr. Socinski, Executive Medical Director and Medical Oncologist at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, was the lead researcher on the IMpower150 trial (NCT02366143), which served as the basis for the FDA approval.
Antiemetic Guideline Adherence: Challenges and Opportunities for Oncology Nurses With Rebecca Clark-Snow, RN, BSN, OCN
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
The introduction of effective antiemetic regimens in recent years has led many clinicians to assume that CINV is no longer a major problem. However, nausea and vomiting are frequent complications of cancer treatment, occurring in up to 80% of patients receiving chemotherapy. Although CINV can be prevented in most patients with the use of guideline-...
Implementing Molecular Profiling at Initial Diagnosis for Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients With James M. Olson, MD, PhD
Devi Seal
Pediatric Cancers
James M. Olson, MD, PhD ​Brain and spinal cord tumors are the second most common cancers in children, accounting for 1 out of 4 childhood cancers. Despite intensive treatment, children with histologically diagnosed high-risk medulloblastoma, supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the central nervous system (CNS-PNET), and pineoblastoma (PBL) continue to have suboptimal outcomes. James M. Olson, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at University of Washington School of Medicine, and colleagues found that molecular profiling of patients with CNS-PNET/PBL revealed a significant proportion of patients were initially misdiagnosed and consequently overtreated and that other patients have a better prognosis than previously realized. i3 Health spoke with Dr. Olson about these findings and their implications for pediatric brain tumor practice.
​Why We Need Certified Oncology Nurses: An Interview With Barbara Gobel, MS, RN, AOCN®, FAAN
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
For oncology nurses, certification has a significant impact on career advancement and quality care. Since oncology is a rapidly changing field, up-to-date study materials are therefore crucial. To this end, Oncology Nursing Review, Sixth Edition, has just been published. This new edition is an essential guide for oncology nurses studying for the On...
Overcoming Challenges in Nursing Management of Metastatic Breast Cancer With Mikel Ross, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC, OCN®, CBCN®
Sarah Williams, MAT
Expert Analysis
Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is associated with a poor prognosis, and patients often develop refractory or resistant disease, adverse events, depression, and financial hardship. Mikel Ross, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC, OCN®, CBCN®, office practice nurse in the Outpatient Breast Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, spoke with i3 Heal...
Treatment Selection Considerations in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer With Robert Dreicer, MD
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
Prostate cancer is the most common tumor type in men in the United States. Typically, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is administered for progressive disease. However, castration resistance or unresponsiveness to ADT or to antiandrogens frequently develops over time. The transition from castration-sensitive to castration-resistant disease has ye...
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Challenges and Future Directions With Thomas A. Abrams, MD
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common tumor globally. Patients with HCC have a dismal prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of 18%. Thomas A. Abrams, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, spoke with i3 Health about how strong physician-patient relationships and a multidisciplinary approach can facilitate the management of HCC and improve outcomes.  
Best Practices in Thyroid Cancer Management With Jochen H. Lorch, MD, MS
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
Thyroid cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the United States. An estimated 56,870 new cases are diagnosed annually, and 2,010 people die of the disease. Thyroid cancer is typically more aggressive in men than women and becomes increasingly lethal in those older than age 40. The dearth of data from well-designed trials has led to confusi...
Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Treatment Selection and Sequencing With Tanya Dorff, MD
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
Prostate cancer is the most common tumor type among men in the United States. Typically, androgen deprivation therapy is administered for progressive disease. However, castration resistance or unresponsiveness to androgen deprivation therapy or to antiandrogens frequently develops over time. The transition from castration-sensitive to castration-re...
Veno-Occlusive Disease: An Interview with Phyllis McKiernan, APN, MSN, OCN® and Michelle N. Rickard, DNP, CPNP-AC, CHPPN, BMTCN, CPON
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a potentially life-threatening complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant. In patients with severe cases, the mortality rate has been estimated to be greater than 80%. In this exclusive interview, Phyllis McKiernan, APN, MSN, OCN and Michelle Rickard, DNP, CPNP-AC, CHPPN, BMTCN, CPON spoke with i3 Health about challenges, patient education strategies, and best practices in nursing management of adult and pediatric patients with VOD.​
What do you consider "sorafenib failure?" Progression on radiological evaluation, clinical evaluation, or both?
Devi Seal
Expert Analysis
Thomas A. Abrams, MD: Clinical deterioration that is not related to obvious AEs of sorafenib has to be regarded as a progression or sorafenib failure, especially if there's corroborating evidence such as biochemical worsening, AFPs going up, worsening liver function, or ascites. Those could be used as a surrogate to progression. If radiological dat...