Posts tagged ‘cancer survivor’
Treatment delays after breast cancer diagnosis shorten survival
Delaying breast cancer treatment after diagnosis, even for a matter of weeks, can shorten a woman’s life, particularly if she is young, poor, Hispanic or African-American, and lacks private health insurance, according to a new study.
After a diagnosis of breast cancer, immediate treatment is critical. But women who are Hispanic, African-American, poor or uninsured are more likely to experience treatment delays, new research shows. And those delays reduce survival. Here, a mammogram reveals the presence of a breast tumor.
“Five-year survival rates are lowest for adolescent and young adult women, and only a few studies have examined the impact of delay in treatment, race/ethnicity, and other socioeconomic factors on survival in AYA [adolescent and young adult] women,” wrote Hoda Anton-Culver, Ph.D., chair of epidemiology at the University of California, Irvine, and senior author of the study published online April 24 in JAMA Surgery.
Breast cancer in adolescents and young adults (between 15 and 39 years of age) accounts for only about 5 to 6 percent of breast cancer cases in the U.S., but their outcomes are worse because the disease is more aggressive than in older women.
Researchers found that treatment delay time of more than six weeks was significantly different between racial and ethnic groups, with Hispanic and African-America women almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic white women to experience a delay of more than six weeks (15.3 and 8.1 percent, respectively). Similarly, poor women and those with public insurance or no insurance were almost twice as likely to experience treatment delays as higher-income women or those with private insurance.
Ninety percent of women treated less than two weeks after diagnosis were alive five years later. However, of those whose treatment began more than six weeks after diagnosis, only 80 percent reached the five-year survival mark. Continue reading “Treatment delays after breast cancer diagnosis shorten survival” »
‘My cancer diagnosis: What I wish I’d known’ – James Neustice
One in a series of stories asking former patients to reflect upon their experience …
James Neustice fought bone cancer with everything he had and came out the other side a survivor. (Credit: James Neustice)
For James Neustice, what began as severe back pain at the age of 23 quickly spun into a whirlwind of blood tests and doctors’ visits — and ultimately led to a life-threatening diagnosis: a kind of bone cancer known as chondroblastic osteogenic sarcoma. That diagnosis was the beginning of seven hard-fought years of treatment.
Good thing he had City of Hope on his side. Now cancer-free more than a decade after his diagnosis, Neustice wants to share what he learned with others who must confront cancer. He has his own records from the time to draw upon.
“Through it all, I have made lists, lists upon lists and even more lists,” he said. “Lists about what to eat, what to drink, what I will stand up for, what I am doing after this chemo treatment, what I am doing during that chemo treatment.”
We asked Neustice to look back at the time of his diagnosis and to ask himself what he knows now that he wishes he’d known then. What wisdom, soothing words, practical tips or just old-fashioned advice would he give his newly diagnosed self?
Continue reading “‘My cancer diagnosis: What I wish I’d known’ – James Neustice” »
In pursuit of cancer breakthroughs: A snapshot of current research
Breakthroughs that help patients don’t happen by accident, not often anyway. Instead, they require painstaking work carefully conducted over time. City of Hope researchers understand this.
At City of Hope, research takes many forms, but the goal is the same: Improve care.
They’re currently exploring an array of avenues in their mission to improve care and outcomes. Here’s a look at some of their ongoing research:
T cell immunotherapy for cancer
Under the direction of Stephen J. Forman, M.D., the Francis and Kathleen McNamara Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, researchers are studying genetically modified subpopulations of T cells to be used in the treatment of cancer.
Forman’s team has developed a platform for selecting, genetically altering and expanding T cells and now is conducting a clinical trial using this therapy to treat patients undergoing autologous transplant for treatment of recurrent lymphoma. The goal is to introduce a tumor-specific immune response to help reduce the chances of relapse. Continue reading “In pursuit of cancer breakthroughs: A snapshot of current research” »
City of Hope classes help smooth the transition from cancer patient to cancer survivor
The number of cancer survivors has been steadily increasing, due in part to increased awareness of symptoms, improved screenings and, of course, better treatments. There are now approximately 12 million cancer survivors in the United States, greater than the population of New York City.
The physical battle with cancer is just the beginning of the recovery process.
But although the physical treatment eventually becomes a thing of the past, returning to a “normal” life isn’t always a cakewalk for newly minted cancer survivors. Only now are social workers, psychologists and other health-care workers turning their attention to cancer’s long-term impact. City of Hope specialists are among those leading the way.
To help survivors through the complete recovery process, the Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center has partnered with Cancer Support Community and LIVESTRONG Foundation to organize a series of six weekly, interactive classes for people who have recently completed treatment.
“We have put together this program because of the questions that we have heard from new survivors,” said Linda Klein, manager of operations at the Biller Patient and Family Resource Center. “Many have a general fear of recurrence and want to know what they can do to stay healthy, and others may encounter communication and emotional issues after this life-changing experience.”
Additional concerns that survivors have focus on returning to work after cancer treatment, how to coordinate and manage follow-up care, and handling issues with health insurance, Klein said. Continue reading “City of Hope classes help smooth the transition from cancer patient to cancer survivor” »
‘My cancer diagnosis: What I wish I’d known’ – Gus Perez
As a veteran Los Angeles city firefighter, Gus Perez thought he had experienced it all – “from bringing people into the world to seeing them leave this world – and everything in between,” including the L.A. riots and the Northridge earthquake. Ten years ago, however, he was blindsided.
Gus Perez, front, shown with wife Tamara and their children Sarah and Matthew, underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2004 for chronic myelogenous leukemia. (Photo courtesy Perez family.)
Applying for a transfer to the Hazardous Materials Unit in San Pedro, the 41-year-old Mission Viejo resident showed up for the routine physical expecting to ace it. After all, he had mastered the rigorous demands of firefighting for nearly 15 years, he and his surfboard regularly rode the waves – and he felt healthy and strong. Instead, abnormal blood work discovered during the physical led to an unbelievable diagnosis: chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
Perez came to City of Hope under the care of David Snyder, M.D., associate chair of the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
He began receiving the drug Gleevec, which put him into remission. Given the drug’s success, he almost resigned himself to staying on it, yet was drawn to a riskier option: undergoing a bone marrow transplant. That was the option that represented his best chance at long-term survival. Continue reading “‘My cancer diagnosis: What I wish I’d known’ – Gus Perez” »
‘My cancer diagnosis: What I wish I’d known’ – Kommah McDowell
Kommah McDowell was confidently on track in her personal and professional life. At 28, she was engaged to be married, prospering in the competitive financial services industry, and was so hardy that she relieved stress through kickboxing.
In 2005, Kommah McDowell was told she had a 5 pecent chance of surviving two years. Now she’s thriving. She’s shown here in a recent photo with her son, Christian. (Photo courtesy of Kommah McDowell)
Then she found the lump in her right breast.
Her doctors assured her it was a benign cyst because she was “too young” to have cancer. Meanwhile, the symptoms mounted: Her nipple inverted as her right breast began swelling, and became inflamed and painful. McDowell insisted that her doctors remove the growth. That’s when they finally confirmed what she already knew. In July 2005, she transferred her care to City of Hope where she had temped in college. She was diagnosed with late-stage inflammatory breast cancer – a particularly aggressive variety – and became a patient of George Somlo, M.D., co-director of the Breast Cancer Program.
Many cancer patients are given survival rate projections for five years; McDowell was told she had a 5 percent chance of surviving two years.
Given the impending bombardment of treatment, she also learned she’d probably never bear a child – and would have to wait at least two years after radiation before even trying to conceive. She and her fiancé, Charles, decided they would likely adopt and focused instead on getting her safely through treatment. In between chemotherapy appointments, recounts McDowell, they even squeezed in their wedding with her “bald head and all.”
Months after recovering from a radical mastectomy on her right side, McDowell found lumps on her left breast. After they were excised, she underwent bilateral reconstructive surgery.
Exactly two years after her final radiation treatment, McDowell heard more astonishing medical news: She was pregnant. Continue reading “‘My cancer diagnosis: What I wish I’d known’ – Kommah McDowell” »
‘My cancer diagnosis: The glorious ending’ – Sean Kent
One in a series of stories asking former patients to reflect upon their experience …
We asked comedian and former Hodgkin lymphoma patient Sean Kent to look back at the time of his diagnosis, and ask himself, what do you know now that you wish you’d known then? What wisdom, soothing words or practical tips, would you give your newly diagnosed self?
Comedian and former Hodgkin lymphoma patient Sean Kent with his wife and two daughters. (Photo courtesy of Sean Kent)
He responded with so much good advice that we’re posting it in six installments. The first installment was about guilt, the second about food, the third about the hospital buddy, the fourth about patients vs. patience, the fifth about speaking up for yourself.
Here’s the sixth, titled “The Glorious Ending.”
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Last, I want to tell you something that’s not in the “wish I’d known” category, but I feel it’s something you should hear. Continue reading “‘My cancer diagnosis: The glorious ending’ – Sean Kent” »
‘My cancer diagnosis: Advocate for your comfort’ – Sean Kent
One in a series of stories asking former patients to reflect upon their experience …
We asked comedian and former Hodgkin lymphoma patient Sean Kent to look back at the time of his diagnosis, and ask himself, what do you know now that you wish you’d known then? What wisdom, soothing words or practical tips, would you give your newly diagnosed self?
Comedian and former Hodgkin lymphoma patient Sean Kent with his wife and two daughters. (Photo courtesy of Sean Kent)
He responded with so much good advice that we’re posting it in six installments. The first installment was about guilt, the second about food, the third about the hospital buddy, the fourth about patients vs. patience.
Here’s the fifth part, titled “Advocate for Your Comfort.”
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If you feel something – SAY SOMETHING.
There are a million drugs or treatments they can give you for discomfort now. If the pills you’re on for nausea don’t work, call your doctor at his house and yell at him until he writes you a new prescription and brings it to your house. Continue reading “‘My cancer diagnosis: Advocate for your comfort’ – Sean Kent” »
Cancer: 5 research areas to watch in 2013
In 2012, numerous advances, large and small, made a difference in cancer treatment. Research, treatment and care will continue to evolve in exciting ways in 2013. City of Hope cancer experts look to the year ahead, predicting that the following five fields will yield significant advances in cancer research and treatment.
1. Cancer Immunotherapies
White blood cells make up the immune system, keeping the body healthy.
Immunotherapies harness a patient’s own immune cells to kill cancer, avoiding much of the toxicity of current standard therapies such as chemotherapy. In 2012, T cell-based treatments demonstrated promising early results, with researchers at the University of Pennsylvania using neutered HIV to infect a patient’s own immune system to produce new anti-cancer T cells. And that’s just the beginning.
Stephen Forman, M.D., clinical director in City of Hope’s Department of Cancer Immunotherapeutics and Tumor Immunology, expects significant new inroads in this field, with City of Hope already developing its own unique immunotherapies against brain, blood and breast cancers.
“Our use of central memory T cells as part of an autologous [bone marrow] transplant is unique to our therapy and sets our approach apart from other T cell treatments in development,” said Forman, the Francis and Kathleen McNamara Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. “Central memory T cells have the potential to establish a persistent, lifelong immunity to help prevent recurrence of lymphoma after transplant.” Continue reading “Cancer: 5 research areas to watch in 2013” »
Cancer-free doesn’t mean home free: Preventive care is crucial
Smita Bhatia, M.D., M.P.H., knows not to nag her patients, though she is protective of them and is looking out for their best interests. Yet, she’s more than familiar with trying to get teens and young adults to think about their future, especially when they may be celebrating their present victory over cancer.
As the Ruth Ziegler Chair in Population Sciences and director of City of Hope’s Center for Cancer Survivorship, Bhatia is focused on ensuring that childhood cancer survivors don’t win one fight only to fall to other related-conditions later in life.
Continue reading “Cancer-free doesn’t mean home free: Preventive care is crucial” »
