Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for December 2018. 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.
Long-Term Reduction in CRC Risk After Negative Colonoscopy
MONDAY, Dec. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For average-risk patients, a negative colonoscopy result is associated with a long-term reduction in the risk for colorectal cancer and related deaths, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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New Guidelines Address Care for Malignant Pleural Effusions
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — New clinical practice guidelines for the management of malignant pleural effusions were published in the January issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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Many Veterans Oppose Cessation of Colorectal Cancer Screening
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many veterans have strong preferences against colorectal cancer (CRC) screening cessation even when provided with information about the potential low benefit of screening, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
Risk for Breast Cancer Increased With False-Positive Screening Result
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women with prior false-positive screening results have an increased risk for screen-detected and interval breast cancer for more than 10 years, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the British Journal of Cancer.
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Obese Patients Exposed to Higher Radiation Doses for X-Rays
FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients with obesity undergoing projection radiography receive a higher dose area product (DAP) than normal-weight adults, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in the Journal of Radiological Protection.
Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Can Reduce Phantom Limb Pain
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of primary targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) can prevent or reduce pain in below-the-knee amputees, according to a report published online Dec. 27 in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
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Low-Priced Generic Drugs Most Likely to Have Shortages
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The lowest-priced generic drugs are more likely to experience shortages, according to a study published in the November issue of Value in Health.
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Elevated Risk for Lung CA in Lung Transplant Recipients Explored
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recipients of a lung transplant, especially a single lung transplant, have an elevated risk for lung cancer, particularly in the native lung, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
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ASH Develops Practice Guidelines for Venous Thromboembolism
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has developed new guidelines for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE); the clinical practice guidelines were recently published in Blood Advances.
Prophylaxis for Hospitalized and Nonhospitalized Medical Patients
Diagnosis of Venous Thromboembolism
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia
Treatment of Pediatric Venous Thromboembolism
Venous Thromboembolism in the Context of Pregnancy
Optimal Management of Anticoagulation Therapy
Health Care Screening Practices Impact Skin Cancer Diagnosis
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Undergoing health care screening practices is associated with an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with skin cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in JAMA Dermatology.
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Initiative Can Cut Gender Gap in Medical School Faculty Salaries
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An institutional gender equity initiative (GEI) can reduce gender-based salary gaps among medical school faculty, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
New AAP Guideline Available for Infantile Hemangioma Treatment
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed its first guideline for the management of infantile hemangiomas (IHs); the clinical practice guideline was published online Dec. 24 in Pediatrics.
Risk of Arterial Thromboembolic Events Up Prior to Cancer Diagnosis
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In older adults, the risk of arterial thromboembolic events begins to increase 150 days before the date of cancer diagnosis and peaks 30 days before, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in Blood.
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Fecal Occult Blood Test May Improve CRC Outcomes in Some
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with several improved outcomes in men but not women, according to a study recently published in the British Journal of Surgery.
HPV Ups Cervical Cancer Risk, Even With No Cellular Signs
MONDAY, Dec. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The presence of certain high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types predicts future risk for high-grade cervical cancer even among women with no cellular indications of cancer at baseline, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in Cancer.
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FDA Approves Drugs for Treatment of Two Rare Blood Diseases
MONDAY, Dec. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Two drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of rare blood diseases, the agency announced Friday.
More Information – Elzonris
More Information – Ultomiris
FDA Warns Companies on Unsafe, Unapproved Stem Cell Treatments
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After infections tied to unapproved stem cell treatments sent 12 people to the hospital this past year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a stern warning about the products.
CDC: Weight, Waist Size, BMI Increased for Many U.S. Adults
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 1999-2000 to 2015-2016, there was an increase in mean weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) for many U.S. adults, according to the Dec. 20 issue of the National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Affordable Care Act Sign-Ups Higher Than Expected
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite numerous difficulties, early figures show that sign-ups for health coverage next year under the Affordable Care Act are higher than expected.
Growth in Use of Telemedicine Seen From 2005 to 2017
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2005 to 2017, there was a substantial increase in telemedicine use, although use was still uncommon in 2017, according to a research letter published online Nov. 27 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Pembrolizumab Promising for Metastatic Head, Neck SCC
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, pembrolizumab has a favorable safety profile and is associated with prolongation of overall survival, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in The Lancet.
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Sorafenib for Desmoid Tumors Ups Progression-Free Survival
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Sorafenib prolongs progression-free survival among patients with desmoid tumors, according to a study published in the Dec. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Modified-FOLFIRINOX Beneficial in Resected Pancreatic Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with resected pancreatic cancer, adjuvant therapy with a modified regimen of chemotherapy with fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX), compared with gemcitabine, results in significantly longer survival, according to a study published in the Dec. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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New Law Boosts Fight Against Sickle Cell Disease
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A sickle cell disease prevention and treatment program in the United States has been reauthorized to receive nearly $5 million each year over the next five years.
NBC News Article
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Endocrine Tx Does Not Impair Neuropsychological Performance
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For early-stage breast cancer survivors, endocrine therapy (ET) appears to have no effect on neuropsychological performance or impairment over six years of follow-up, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in Cancer.
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Exercise Linked to Reduced Mortality for Patients With Cancer
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with cancer, participation in prediagnosis and postdiagnosis recreational physical activity is associated with reduced mortality, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in Cancer Causes & Control.
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‘Aggressive Steps’ Needed to Stop Adolescent Use of E-Cigarettes
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — “Aggressive steps” must be taken by parents, teachers, health providers, and government officials to prevent children and teens from using electronic cigarettes, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, M.D., M.P.H., said in an advisory.
Exclusion of Doctors From Public Health Insurance Up 2007 to 2017
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2007 to 2017, the number of physicians excluded from Medicare and state public insurance programs increased, according to a study published online Dec. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
2010 to 2014 Saw Increase in Anemia After Hospitalization
MONDAY, Dec. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Moderate anemia after hospitalization increased from 2010 to 2014 in parallel with reduced red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, although this increase was not associated with increased subsequent RBC use, rehospitalization, or mortality within six months, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Risk for Zoster Up Before Dx, During Tx of Hematologic Cancer
MONDAY, Dec. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk for herpes zoster (zoster) is elevated during the two years preceding diagnosis and during treatment of hematological cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Cisplatin Superior to Cetuximab for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer
MONDAY, Dec. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive low-risk oropharyngeal cancer, cetuximab shows no benefit compared with the standard cisplatin regimen in terms of reduced toxicity and results in worse tumor control, according to a study recently published in The Lancet.
Post-Inflammatory Polyps Not Linked to Colorectal Neoplasia
FRIDAY, Dec. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), post-inflammatory polyps (PIPs) are associated with greater severity and extent of colon inflammation and higher rates of colectomy, but not with development of colorectal neoplasia (CRN), according to a study published online Dec. 7 in Gastroenterology.
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Apixaban Prevents VTE in Cancer Patients Initiating Chemotherapy
FRIDAY, Dec. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with cancer starting chemotherapy who are at intermediate-to-high risk, rates of venous thromboembolism are significantly lower for thromboprophylaxis with apixaban versus placebo, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Persistent Discrimination ID’d Among Physician Mothers
FRIDAY, Dec. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physician mothers experience discrimination in a range of ways, which can impact the medical profession, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in The BMJ.
Medication Beliefs Affect Uptake of Preventive Tx for Breast Cancer
FRIDAY, Dec. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Beliefs about medication are associated with uptake of tamoxifen as a preventive therapy among women at increased risk for breast cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 2 in Clinical Breast Cancer.
Risk Factors Identified for Late Recurrence of Liver Cancer
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Late recurrence after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection is associated with sex, cirrhosis, and several aggressive tumor characteristics of the initial HCC, according to a study recently published in JAMA Surgery.
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Medication Errors Resulting in Death Most Common in Elderly
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medication errors in acute care that result in death occur most often in patients older than 75 years, with the most common error category being omitted medicine or ingredient, according to a study published online Nov. 22 in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.
Wearable Sensor Can Measure Personalized Ultraviolet Exposure
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A millimeter-scale, wireless, battery-free, miniaturized dosimeter can monitor ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and appears to work well in different settings, according to research published online Dec. 5 in Science Translational Medicine.
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Novel Breast Imaging Technique Might Cut Unnecessary Biopsies
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A novel technique, quantitative three-compartment breast (3CB) image analysis of dual-energy mammography combined with mammography radiomics, could reduce unnecessary breast biopsies, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in Radiology.
Radical Prostatectomy Has Lasting Benefit for Localized Cancer
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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 
