Trump Administration Releases Budget Proposal
The Trump Administration recently released its fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget proposal, including extensive health policy provisions.
The budget proposal features numerous program integrity provisions. For instance, the budget calls for: a $45 million increase in Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control funding; expanded prior authorization requirements for high utilization practitioners of radiation therapy, therapy services, advanced imaging, and anatomic pathology services; expansion of the items of DME, prosthetics and orthotics that are subject to prior authorization; a demonstration to test the use of a benefits manager fo...
Source: Policy and Medicine - February 19, 2018 Category: American Health Authors: Thomas Sullivan - Policy & Medicine Writing Staff Source Type: blogs
Bursting Oxygen-loaded Microbubbles Near Solid Tumors Can Enhance Radiation Therapy
Scientists at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have developed a new technique to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy for solid tumors. Their method employs nanotechnology in the form of oxygen-filled microbubbles that can be burst using focused ultrasound when they are near a tumor.
The majority of solid tumors are oxygen-deficient as they quickly outgrow their blood supply. This can make radiation therapy a challenge, as it works by creating oxygen radicals from oxygen present in tissues, which then go on to destroy the tissue. If the tissue is oxygen-deficient to begin with, fewer oxygen radicals ar...
Source: Medgadget - January 30, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Nanomedicine Oncology Source Type: blogs
New Evidence in JAMA Shows Insurance Gaps Leave Some Cancer Patients Without
BY BAILEY FITZGERALD
“How long do I have?”
The man was just diagnosed with lung cancer.
“That depends,” his doctor says. “What insurance do you have?”
New research suggests that conversations like these may be actually taking place across the country. Todd Pezzi and colleagues analyzed a national database for treatment outcomes for patients with limited stage non-small cell lung cancer, a diagnosis with high rates of response to treatment. The results, reported in JAMA Oncology last week were astounding: patients with Medicare, Medicaid, or no health insurance received different, and often worse, care than thos...
Source: The Health Care Blog - January 12, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized Bailey Fitzgerald Cancer JAMA Oncology Standard of Care Source Type: blogs
New Evidence in JAMA Shows Insurance Gaps Leave Some Cancer Patients Without Treatment
BY BAILEY FITZGERALD
“How long do I have?”
The man was just diagnosed with lung cancer.
“That depends,” his doctor says. “What insurance do you have?”
New research suggests that conversations like these may be actually taking place across the country. Todd Pezzi and colleagues analyzed a national database for treatment outcomes for patients with limited stage non-small cell lung cancer, a diagnosis with high rates of response to treatment. The results, reported in JAMA Oncology last week were astounding: patients with Medicare, Medicaid, or no health insurance received different, and often worse, care than thos...
Source: The Health Care Blog - January 12, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized Bailey Fitzgerald Cancer JAMA Oncology Standard of Care Source Type: blogs
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An update from Tim:Here are the last few Facebook posts I made on Laurie ' s behalf over the last few months. Apologies for everyone who is not on Facebook or connected with me by email.November 16I would like to let you all know how Laurie is doing and what is going on health wise with her.Over the last few weeks Laurie has been suffering from some cognitive issues that has limited her ability to post and comment here, As these issues got more serious her oncologist scheduled an MRI to try and find out the cause and to make a plan to deal with it. The MRI showed that there are new tumours in her brain. I have not read&nbs...
Source: Not just about cancer - January 8, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: blogs
For “ chemobrain ” et alia: think “ brain fitness training ”
If you have this personal history of cancer and chemo- or radiation-therapy, or know someone or are treating someone who has lived it, you might seriously consider enrolling (them) in a serious “brain fitness program”. That is ESPECIALLY the case if memory or other cognitive losses have been noted after either chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Posit Science is now supporting a study that is designed to document improvements in cognitive function resulting from its “brain fitness training” strategy (see www.brainhq.com) in chemotherapy-treated breast cancer survivors. While initial findings in t...
Source: On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. - January 1, 2018 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Dr. Merzenich Tags: Aging and the Brain Brain Fitness Brain Trauma, Injury Chemobrain Source Type: blogs
The Present Standard Cancer Therapies Increase Biological Age
The current standard treatments for cancer, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are quite unpleasant and harmful; no-one would voluntarily undergo them given a better alternative. In fact, treatment makes people physically older, accelerating the processes of aging. There is evidence to suggest that this is due to an added burden of senescent cells. Cells become senescent in response to damage or a toxic environment, and there is plenty of that going around in any earnest attempt to treat cancer with radiation or chemical agents; in fact, many cancer therapies are intended to aggressively induce senescence in tumor cells.
...
Source: Fight Aging! - December 20, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Ablation of ventricular tachycardia by sterotactic radiation therapy
Till date, ablation of ventricular tachycardia is done by invasive catheter based mapping of arrhythmia focus within the ventricles. In a potentially path breaking report published in the New Enland Journal of Medicine, non invasive cardiac radiation for ablation of ventricular tachycardia in 5 patients has been described [1]. Ventricular tachycardia was induced by the already implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and non invasive electrocardiographic imaging of the tachycardia obtained. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) was done after standard simulation, planning and treatment procols. Treatment efficacy...
Source: Cardiophile MD - December 18, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis, MD, DM, FACC, FRCP Edin, FRCP London Tags: Cardiology ECG / Electrophysiology Source Type: blogs
Waiting for Cancer Research
After 12 years (how the heck did that happen?) of breast cancer coping, I have actually seen some cancer research go from new or in clinical trials to become standard of care. This includes length of hormonal treatment for breast cancer patients. But it does not include many, many others.Some cancer ' breakthroughs ' are still in trials, or have vanished because they didn ' t work. They provide us cancer people with instant elation at the possibilities it hints at, followed by deflation as we realize it is years or decades in the future.An example of this is this news that at UVA they are working to find a wayto stop tripl...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - December 4, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: breast cancer treatment cancer research clinical trials waiting Source Type: blogs
Sensus Healthcare ’s Technology Uses Low-Energy X-rays Directly on Cancer Cells: Interview with CEO Joe Sardano
Sensus Healthcare is a medical device company that focuses on providing non-invasive and cost-effective treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers and keloids utilizing superficial radiation technology (SRT). Their proprietary, FDA-cleared SRT technology is used to effectively and safely treat oncological and non-oncological skin conditions. The radiation is focused onto cancer cells almost exclusively, and it penetrates no more than 5mm under the surface of the skin, sparing nearby tissues.
In 2013, Sensus Healthcare received FDA clearance in the United States to treat keloids with the SRT-100 device. Earlier this summer, Chi...
Source: Medgadget - November 20, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Alice Ferng Tags: Dermatology Exclusive Oncology Source Type: blogs
Why do some breast cancer patients decline chemotherapy and radiation?
Adjuvant therapy after surgery, such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation therapy, has contributed to a 39% decrease in breast cancer mortality since 1989. Unfortunately, a significant number of women decline evidence-based adjuvant therapy. A recent study suggests that distrust of the medical system plays a significant role in such refusal.
The post Why do some breast cancer patients decline chemotherapy and radiation? appeared first on RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE. (Source: Respectful Insolence)
Source: Respectful Insolence - November 20, 2017 Category: Surgery Authors: Orac Tags: Cancer Medicine Skepticism/critical thinking Surgery adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy radiation therapy Source Type: blogs
Involve plastic surgeons early in breast cancer treatment
Women who lose part or all of one or both breasts due to breast cancer surgery may choose to have new breasts created with their own tissue — a process that also may or may not involve breast implants. A wide range of reconstruction procedures is available, including a variety of flaps and options to use either implants or what is known as autologous fat transfer.
Each surgery has its own unique benefits and challenges, but there are variables to consider beyond what the procedure can offer for a patient’s immediate situation.
A study performed earlier in 2017 revealed that, for patients who underwent radiation the...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - November 18, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/terry-myckatyn" rel="tag" > Terry Myckatyn, MD < /a > Tags: Conditions Oncology/Hematology Surgery Source Type: blogs
Doctors have a responsibility to outline options. Patients make the final decision.
As an oncologist, I want to provide the best treatment for everyone. That should mean the best chance at a long-lasting remission, if not cure. Whatever that might take. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy — a dark tunnel that I hope patients will enter and then exit, with the sun shining on the other side. But, every now and then, I have a patient who chooses not to pursue the regimen that I think will bring them the best chances. Such was the case with Jean*.
I met Jean as a second opinion — referred to me for discussion about next steps. She was 90 years old, though looked 30 years younger. She lived by...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 26, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/don-s-dizon" rel="tag" > Don S. Dizon, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Hospital-Based Medicine Oncology/Hematology Source Type: blogs
New Siemens MRI for Radiation Therapy: MAGNETOM RT Pro Edition for MAGNETOM Vida
Siemens Healthineers has just unveiled their brand new MAGNETOM RT Pro edition for MAGNETOM Vida, a 3 Tesla MRI scanner specifically designed for planning radiation therapy procedures. It has a new magnet, a pretty large 55x55x50 field of view, and an optional 60/200 XT gradient system that the firm believes may improve geometric distortions.
The new device sports the company’s “BioMatrix Technology,” which generates an improved image by taking into consideration the anatomical and physiological variability from patient to patient. The so-called “RT Dot Engine” offers a bunch of protocols t...
Source: Medgadget - September 21, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: Radiation Oncology Radiology Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 58-year-old man with cancer of the ascending colon
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 58-year-old man undergoes follow-up evaluation for cancer of the ascending colon diagnosed 3 weeks ago. Colonoscopy at that time revealed a fungating mass in the ascending colon. Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma, and additional studies showed no evidence of metastatic disease. Right hemicolectomy was performed. The pathology report showed a 4-cm primary adenocarcinoma with clear margins at resection, full-thickness penetration through the colonic wall into pericolonic fat, and 4/21 lymph nodes involved (stage II...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - August 26, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Gastroenterology Oncology/Hematology Source Type: blogs
