Cancer Treatment Today

It is generally accepted that stage I and II breast cancer does not require staging for distant metastases. Stage II is divided into stage IIA and stage IIB based on tumor size and whether it has spread to the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm). In stage IIA, the cancer is either not larger than 2 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, or between 2 and 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.

It is generally accepted that stage I and II breast cancer does not require staging. Stage II is divided into stage IIA and stage IIB based on tumor size and whether it has spread to the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm). In stage IIA, the cancer is either not larger than 2 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, or between 2 and 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes. In stage IIB, the cancer

ColoVantage is a new test available from Quest. Although it is a screening test, Quest says that it is not meant to be a substitute for colonoscopy. It was approved by NY State in March of 2011. It  detects circulating methylated DNA from the SEPT9 gene, which is involved in cell frowth and cell cycle control. A case-control study performed at Quest Diagnostics showed that the ColoVantage test is 70% sensitive for colorectal cacner detection at

ColoVantage is a new test available from Quest. It is a screening test that is not meant to be a substitute for colonoscopy. It was approved by NY State in March of 2011. It  detects circulating methylated DNA from the SEPT9 gene, which is involved in cytokinesis and cell cycle control. A case-control study performed at Quest Diagnostics showed that the ColoVantage test is 70% sensitive for CRC detection at a specificity of 89%.  ColoVantage has

Raising Hemoglobin levels is not always an unmitigated belssing. Studies in dialysis patients showed an increased risk of complications when Hb is raised above HB of 10-22.  Meta-analysis of reported randomized clincal trials(RCT)s conclude that normalization of hemoglobin with erythropoietin is harmful. The connection between heart failure(HF) and Hb levels appears to exist but it is not certain that low Hb worsens heart failure. Three studies

Standard  therapy after bladder cancer was removed and is found to not be muscle invasive cancer can reduce the risk of recurrence. Patients at high risk for cancer recurrence receive bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy instilled into the bladder after surgery. One study that compared mitomycin with interferon alfa-2b showed an improved outcome with mitomycin, although interferon was better tolerated. Intravesical interferon therapy  with BCGT

Standard adjuvant therapy for non muscle invasive cancer can reduce the risk of recurrence. Patients at high risk for cancer recurrence receive bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy after surgery. One study that compared mitomycin with interferon alfa-2b showed an improved outcome with mitomycin, although interferon was better tolerated. Intravesical interferon therapy  with BCGT or by itself can significantly lower the recurrence rate in superficial

Myelofibrosis is a Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm with a natural history characterized by progressive anemia, spleen enlargement due to extramedullary hematopoiesis, and potential for evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). For patients who require treatment and are not candidates for transplantation, available therapies are palliative. Thesy include: chemotherapy such as hydroxyurea; erythropoiesis-stimulating agents;

Myelofibrosis is a Philadelphia chromosome-negative blood condition with a natural history characterized by progressive anemia, spleen enlargement due to production for ed cells there, and potential for evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). For patients who require treatment and are not candidates fostem cell  transplantation, available therapies have not been curative. They include: chemotherapy such as hydroxyurea; erythropoiesis-stimulating

Medullary and papillary thyroid carcinoma (MTC and PTC) are two types of thyroid cancer that can originate from activating mutations or rearrangements in the RET gene. Axitinib has been studied for thyroid cancer. Two phase II studies were reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology evaluating different axitinib and sorafenib therapies in patients with advanced thyroid cancer have special significance. Eligible patients in both studies included