Hem/Onc Roundup: Expert Discusses Myeloma Treatment Sequencing, Plus New CRC Screening Guidelines

This week on DocWire, editors spoke with Dr. Nikhil Munshi, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, about why treatment sequencing and selection is a complex issue in multiple myeloma. “With 13, 14 drugs available, there are permutations and combinations that one can utilize,” said Dr. Munshi. “And selecting them in the right sequence, and compressing various patient features, disease features, etc., brings about the complexity.”

https://www.docwirenews.com/condition-center/multiple-myeloma-knowledge-hub/multiple-myeloma-kol-video/multiple-myeloma-treatment-sequencing-and-selection-with-dr-nikhil-munshi/

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In other news, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force updated their guidance on starting screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) to adults aged 45 years, down from the previous suggested age of 50 years. The researchers found that lowering the age to begin screening from 50 to 45 years yielded 22 to 27 additional life-years gained per 1,000 persons. “To encourage screening and help patients select the best test for them, we urge primary care clinicians to talk about the pros and cons of the various recommended options with their patients,” a task force member said in a statement.

https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/hem-onc-picks/uspstf-urges-crc-screening-for-adults-aged-50-to-75-45-to-49/

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Researchers recently took a deeper dive into what young adults with cancer need most from those taking care of them by analyzing blogs written by patients. From their analyses of the blogs, two main themes emerged: interactions with healthcare personnel and living with their cancer diagnosis. Patients reported challenges obtaining information about their care or diagnosis, and alienating encounters with their providers. They also reported struggling with the physical and mental impact of their diagnosis, finding hope, and living with ongoing fear.

https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/hem-onc-picks/young-women-with-cancer-share-their-real-lived-experiences-of-diagnosis-treatment-and-beyond/

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Finally, a large-scale U.K. trial of ovarian cancer screening was unable to reduce deaths from the disease, according to findings published in The Lancet. Researchers examined more than 200,000 women aged 50–74 who were randomly assigned to one of three groups: no screening, annual screening using an ultrasound scan, and annual multimodal screening involving a blood test followed by an ultrasound scan as a second line test. While multimodal testing succeeded at detecting early-stage cancer, neither screening method led to a reduction in deaths.

https://www.docwirenews.com/hematology-oncology/large-scale-trial-of-ovarian-cancer-screening-fails-to-reduce-deaths/