Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for August 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
AI Model Using Chest X-Ray May Predict 12-Year Lung Cancer Risk
MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A deep learning model based on chest radiograph (CXR) images and data from the electronic medical record (EMR) has better discrimination for smokers at high risk for incident lung cancer than Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) eligibility, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Delayed Radiotherapy Not Tied to Worse Survival in Prostate Cancer
FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For men with prostate cancer (PC), initiation of radiotherapy (RT) up to six months after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is not associated with worse overall survival (OS), according to a research letter published online Aug. 13 in JAMA Oncology.
Follow-up Calls After Mohs Surgery Do Not Boost Satisfaction
MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Postoperative follow-up telephone calls (TFU) to patients after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) do not improve patient satisfaction, according to a research letter published online July 31 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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MASCC/ISOO Update Guidelines for Management of Mucositis
MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and the International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) have issued updated recommendations for the management of mucositis; a summary of these updates was published online July 28 in Cancer.
Losing Weight Before Midlife Cuts Mortality Risk
FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Weight loss from obesity to overweight between early adulthood through midlife is associated with a lower risk for early death compared with maintaining obesity, according to a study published online Aug. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
Risk for Cancer Reduced for Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The risk for cancer is reduced among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published online Aug. 13 in Autoimmunity Reviews.
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Mortality, Intubation Rates Lower With Anticoagulation in COVID-19
FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, anticoagulation (AC) is associated with reduced mortality and intubation, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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No SARS-CoV-2 RNA Seen on Surfaces in Radiation Oncology Clinic
THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Testing of environmental surfaces in the radiation oncology clinic in a tertiary care COVID-19 referral center revealed no detectable severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA, according to a research letter published online Aug. 27 in JAMA Oncology.
Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors Not Tied to Skin Cancer
THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is no association between use of topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) and an increased risk for skin cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in JAMA Dermatology.
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Survival Worse for Breast Cancers Secondary to Childhood Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of childhood and adolescent and young adult cancer who develop a secondary breast cancer have significantly decreased breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), according to a study published online Aug. 26 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Preterm Delivery Ups Risk for Premature Mortality in Mothers
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Preterm delivery is associated with an increased risk for premature mortality in women, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in The BMJ.
Weight Loss May Lower Obesity-Related Cancer Risk in T2DM
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) may reduce the incidence of obesity-related mortality among individuals with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in Obesity.
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Care Delayed for Many U.S. Breast Cancer Patients Early in Pandemic
TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of breast cancer patients have experienced delays in care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Black-White Disparity in Lung Cancer Incidence Eliminated
MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The historically higher lung cancer incidence in young Black people compared with White people has disappeared and reversed in men and women, respectively, in the United States, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in JNCI Cancer Spectrum.
Transoral Robotic Surgery Ups Survival in Oropharyngeal Cancer
MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with early-stage oropharyngeal cancer, transoral robotic surgery is associated with improved surgical outcomes and survival, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in JAMA Oncology.
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p16INK4a Expression Increased in Young Cancer Survivors
MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Pediatric and young adult cancer survivors, frail versus robust survivors, and newly diagnosed pediatric patients after cancer therapy have increased expression of p16INK4a, corresponding with age acceleration, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in Cancer.
Targeted Intraoperative RT Is Effective Alternative to EBRT
FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Single-dose targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) during lumpectomy is an effective alternative to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), according to a study published online Aug. 19 in The BMJ.
Late Morbidity, Mortality Down for Survivors of Childhood ALL
THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Contemporary survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have reduced late morbidity and mortality, according to a study published online July 24 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Advisory Panel Rejects Nearly All Proposals for Fetal Tissue Research
THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A Trump administration advisory board to evaluate scientific research involving fetal tissue says 13 of 14 proposals should be rejected.
Poll: More Older Adults Using Telehealth During Pandemic
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More older adults have used telehealth to consult with a health care provider during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with that seen in the previous year, according to a report published online Aug. 17 based on the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Recent Diabetes + Weight Loss Tied to Pancreatic Cancer Risk
TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Recent-onset diabetes accompanied by weight loss is associated with a substantially increased risk for developing pancreatic cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in JAMA Oncology.
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Higher BPA Exposure Linked to Increased Risk for All-Cause Mortality
TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher bisphenol A (BPA) exposure is associated with an increased risk for all-cause mortality in a nationally representative cohort of U.S. adults, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in JAMA Network Open.
Rates of Prescription Opioid Use Higher in Cancer Survivors
TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cancer survivors have higher rates of prescription opioid use but do not have increased rates of prescription opioid misuse compared with those without a history of cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in JAMA Network Open.
Some Doctors Endorse Thyroid Ultrasonography Unnecessarily
MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of physicians endorse use of thyroid ultrasonography for clinically unsupported reasons, according to a research letter published online Aug. 12 in JAMA Surgery.
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Smokers Less Likely to Receive Breast, Cervical, CRC Screening
MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Current smokers have lower odds of obtaining cancer screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in BMJ Open.
Breast Cancer Mortality Decreased With Mammography From Age 40
MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Annual mammography from age 40 years is associated with a relative reduction in breast cancer mortality for 10 years, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in The Lancet Oncology.
Guidance Issued for Genetic Testing in Prostate Cancer
MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As a result of the Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference, hosted by Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center-Jefferson Health and the Department of Urology at Jefferson, recommendations have been developed for implementing germline testing for prostate cancer. The consensus framework was recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Convalescent Plasma Efficacious for Severe COVID-19
FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Transfusion of convalescent plasma is efficacious in patients with severe COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in The American Journal of Pathology.
Lean Mass Lower in Survivors of Pediatric Abdominal, Pelvic Tumors
FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of pediatric abdominal or pelvic tumors have lower lean mass in association with radiation doses and worse metabolic outcomes, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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GI Surgical Outcomes Worse With Preop Use of Opioids, Sedatives
THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative opioid and sedative use are risk factors for morbidity and mortality following colorectal resections, according to a study published in the July issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.
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Burnout Less Likely for Doctors in Minority Race/Ethnic Groups
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Compared with non-Hispanic White physicians, physicians in minority racial/ethnic groups are less likely to report burnout, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
Sharp Drop in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Mortality Seen in Recent Years
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mortality from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the United States fell sharply from 2013 to 2016, while survival improved substantially, according to a study published in the Aug. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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ASH Issues Guidelines on Newly Diagnosed AML in Older Adults
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In evidence-based guidelines issued by the American Society of Hematology and published in the Aug. 11 issue of Blood Advances, recommendations are presented for the management of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in older adults.
Surgical Delays Not Life-Threatening in Early Breast Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Surgical delays do not seem to be life-threatening for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or with early-stage estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 6 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Guidance Helps Doctors Optimize Telemedicine for Seniors
TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In an Ideas and Opinions article published online Aug. 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, guidance is provided for physicians to optimize telemedicine, which can be challenging for older patients.
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Expanding Medicaid in Holdout States Could Insure 3.9 Million
MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Expanding Medicaid to all states could reduce the number of uninsured by 28 percent based on pre-COVID-19 data, according to a report released by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Standardized Treatment Improves Outcomes in Germ Cell Tumors
MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Clinical outcomes are similar for patients receiving standardized treatment for germ cell tumors (GCTs) at a public safety net hospital or an academic tertiary care center, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in Cancer.
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Trouble With Daily Activities Tied to Worse Cancer Outcomes
FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalized patients with advanced cancer who have difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs) experience worse clinical outcomes, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Life Expectancy 78.60 Years for U.S. Population for 2009-2011
FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Life expectancy for 2009 to 2011 was 78.60 years for the total U.S. population, with the highest life expectancy for Hispanic women, according to the Aug. 7 National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Overscreening for Cancer Common Among Older Adults
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Cancer Survivors Have Lower Levels of Physical Activity 
Pharmacist-Led Med Review Improves Medication Quality in Older Patients With Cancer 
Mindfulness, Tai Chi May Benefit Cancer Survivors .jpg)
Mortality Lowest at Hemoglobin Concentrations Above WHO Thresholds 
Lower Cognitive Functioning During 60s Linked to Subsequent Stroke Risk 
Polypharmacy of Prescription Medications Increased for U.S. Older Adults 
Nearly 1 in 10 Older Adults Used Cannabis in the Past Year 
Lower Vertebral Bone Mineral Density Linked to Cognitive Decline 
