Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for October 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.
Barriers to Prostate Cancer Research in Black Men Identified
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A lack of understanding of terminology, health care system distrust, and a lack of prostate cancer knowledge are among the barriers to genomic testing for prostate cancer and prostate cancer research participation among black men, according to a study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Link Between Statins, Non-CVD Outcomes Lacks Evidence
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a lack of convincing evidence for an association between statin use and non-cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, according to a review published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Genetic Risk Score IDs Breast CA Risk in Female Child CA Survivors
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A polygenic risk score (PRS) can identify subsequent breast cancer risk among childhood survivors of cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in Clinical Cancer Research.
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Black, Low-Income Women May Not Report Barriers to Care
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Black women, women living in poverty, and those with higher levels of distrust are less likely to report barriers to timely screening mammography, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in Cancer.
Abstract
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Erectile Dysfunction Common in Childhood Cancer Survivors
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) is 29 percent among male childhood cancer survivors (CCS), according to a research letter published online Oct. 4 in JAMA Oncology.
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AMA Announces Initiative to Reinvent Physician Training
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced a new $15 million competitive grant initiative, the “Reimagining Residency” initiative, aimed at improving residency training.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors May Up Lung CA Risk
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer compared with angiotensin receptor blockers, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in the BMJ.
Pilot Studies May Shed Light on How to Treat Lymphedema
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with ketoprofen may improve the skin biology in lymphedema, with improvements noted in histopathology and skin thickness, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JCI Insight.
New Method Estimates Risk for Recurrence in Breast Cancer
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk for breast cancer recurrence can be extracted using disease-specific survival data, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Many Hospitals Noncompliant With Record Request Regulations
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among top-ranked U.S. hospitals, data reveal discrepancies in information provided to patients regarding medical records release processes as well as noncompliance with state and federal regulations, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
Healthier Diet Tied to Lower Mortality Risk in CRC Patients
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who follow healthy diets before or after diagnosis have a decreased risk for mortality, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Smoking Associated With Head, Neck Surgery Complications
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Smoking is associated with increased rates of postoperative wound disruption and subsequent reoperation among patients undergoing free flap reconstruction of the head and neck, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
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Hypofractionated Radiation OK for Localized Prostate CA
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A new clinical guideline for early-stage prostate cancer supports the use of shortened courses of radiation therapy, according to an article published in Practical Radiation Oncology.
Durvalumab Extends Survival in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung CA
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Durvalumab results in significantly longer overall survival than placebo among patients with stage III, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer who did not have disease progression after concurrent chemoradiotherapy, according to a study published Sept. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Cancer Survival Higher in Teens, Young Adults Than Other Groups
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall, cancer survival among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) has consistently exceeded that of other age groups except during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, according to a study published Oct. 15 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Trump Administration Announces Plan to Cut Drug Prices
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In an effort to cut high drug costs, the prices paid by Medicare for certain prescription drugs would be based on those in other advanced industrial nations, according to a proposal announced Oct. 25 by the Trump administration.
HHS Study
New York Times Article
Tobacco Use Remains Leading Modifiable Cause of Cancer
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Tobacco use remains the leading modifiable cause of cancer and should be a priority for cancer control, according to a report published online Oct. 10 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
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Pace of Change Has Accelerated in Alternative Payment Models
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The impact of alternative payment models (APMs) on physician practices has been described in a study published by the RAND Corp. and the American Medical Association.
Open Surgery for Early Lung CA Tied to Long-Term Opioid Use
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Surgical invasiveness might play a role in the odds of becoming a long-term opioid user after early-stage lung cancer surgery, according to a research letter published online Sept. 24 in JAMA Oncology.
Most Supplements Contain Prohibited Stimulants
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many supplements contain one or more stimulants that have been the subject of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-issued public notices, according to a research letter published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Hispanics With HIV Face Higher Risk for HPV-Related Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — HIV-infected Hispanics have an increased risk for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers than Hispanics in the general population, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in Cancer.
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White House Unveils New Insurance Option for Small Firms
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A plan to allow small businesses to use tax-free accounts to provide health coverage for employees was announced today by the Trump administration.
AP News Article
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A-Fib Patients With Cancer Less Likely to See Cardiologist
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with cancer are less likely to see a cardiologist and fill prescriptions for anticoagulants, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Thermal Ablation Acceptable for Early Lung Cancer
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Thermal ablation (TA) is a safe, effective treatment for stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a study recently published in Radiology.
Diagnostic Strategy Can Rule Out PE in Pregnant Women
MONDAY, Oct. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A diagnostic strategy based on pretest clinical probability assessment, high-sensitivity D-dimer testing, bilateral lower-limb compression ultrasonography (CUS), and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) can safely rule out pulmonary embolism (PE) in pregnant women, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Aspirin, Anticoagulants Similarly Prevent VTE After TKA
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), aspirin alone may provide protection against postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) that is similar to that of other anticoagulants, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in JAMA Surgery.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Light Use of Topical Skin Tx Before Radiotherapy Seems Safe
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Contrary to the advice most cancer patients receive, light or moderate use of topical agents before radiation treatment does not appear to increase the radiation dose to the skin, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JAMA Oncology.
Sharp Drop in U.S. Life Expectancy Rankings by 2040
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The United States will have the largest drop in life expectancy rankings of all high-income countries by 2040, a new study says.
CNN Article
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Editorial
Procurement Requirements Drive Interoperability in Health Care IT
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Interoperability of health care information technology (IT) must be improved to facilitate creation of a fully integrated health care system that can improve health and health care at lower cost, according to a report published by the National Academy of Medicine.
Deep Learning Algorithm Can ID Mammographic Breast Density
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A deep learning (DL) algorithm can successfully assess mammographic breast density, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Radiology.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Plasma-Based Genotyping Aids Targeted Tx of Metastatic NSCLC
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Integration of plasma next-generation sequencing (NGS) into the routine management of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) results in an increase in the detection of therapeutically targetable mutations, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in JAMA Oncology.
Recreational Marijuana Now Legal in Canada
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recreational marijuana became legal in Canada today, and while many welcome the move, others have serious concerns.
The New York Times Article
CMAJ Editorial
Lung Cancer Deaths 28% Lower in California Than Rest of U.S.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Annual lung cancer mortality was 28 percent lower in California than in the rest of the United States in 2013, according to a study published online Oct. 10 in Cancer Prevention Research.
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Treatment Tied to Survival Benefit in Complex Bladder Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cancer treatment is associated with a clinically meaningful survival benefit in older, medically complex patients with superficial bladder cancer (SBC), according to a study published online Oct. 5 in Cancer.
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Positive HPV Status Tied to Better Cervical Cancer Prognosis
TUESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV)-positive cervical tumors have a substantially better prognosis than women with hrHPV-negative tumors, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in PLOS Medicine.
CHF in Pregnancy Up for Cancer Survivors With Cardiac Toxicity
TUESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) during pregnancy is 31 percent among women with a history of cardiotoxicity associated with cancer treatment, according to a study published in the Oct. 23 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Without Medicaid Expansion, Poor Patients Forgo Medical Care
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Doing without medical care is much more common among low-income residents of states that have not expanded Medicaid than among low-income people in other states, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
In NSCLC, Longer Survival With Brigatinib Than Crizotinib
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not previously received an ALK inhibitor, progression-free survival is significantly longer in those who receive treatment with brigatinib versus crizotinib, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Active Pharmaceuticals ID’d in >700 Dietary Supplements
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Dietary supplements often include active pharmaceuticals, even after warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in JAMA Network Open.
Multicomponent Intervention Can Reduce Sitting Time at Work
FRIDAY, Oct. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A multicomponent intervention (Stand More At [SMArT] Work) can reduce sitting time over the short, medium, and long terms, according to a study published online Oct. 10 in The BMJ.
FDA Approves New DNA-Based Test to Verify Blood Compatibility
FRIDAY, Oct. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the ID CORE XT DNA-based test to help doctors verify blood compatibility before a transfusion.
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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 
