When it comes to cancer screenings, there can be some confusion as to what tests are recommended, who should be getting them, and how often. Since February is National Cancer Prevention Awareness Month, we thought it would be a good time to review the cancer screening guidelines for 2022. Following these testing recommendations, along with making healthy lifestyle choices, can help lower your risk regarding certain cancers.
The number of American cancer deaths from 2017 to 2018 dropped by 2.4%, marking a record single-year drop for the second year in a row at the time of publication. These stats were published in the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) annual Cancer Facts & Figures report, which also revealed more positive news regarding the long-term direction of cancer death rates.
Liver cancer proton therapy can improve the overall survival rate for patients, according to clinical research. This good news for proton advocates comes on the heels of another study identifying predictors to help reduce liver damage from radiation, which could give doctors better insight when determining a patient’s treatment plan.
In a news release from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), Laura Dawson, MD, President-elect of ASTRO and a professor of radiation oncology at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto, remarked on the promise this shows for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, an often fatal type of liver cancer. “There is hope for patients with liver cancer, with more treatments becoming available in recent years,” said Dawson. “These studies show that protons, like photons, may be used to treat patients with HCC with a high rate of tumor control and a reduced risk of adverse effects.”
Liver cancer is not among the most common cancers in the U.S. It is, however, among the deadliest.
This year, nearly 41,000 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed, breaking down to roughly 70 percent men and 30 percent women. Nearly 29,000 people will die.
What many people may not realize is that liver cancer can be a good candidate for proton therapy. (more…)
It’s not news that tobacco is bad news. And yet, it still represents a significant health risk for people around the world. (more…)
The spotlight recently shone on proton therapy by the International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics, known as the Red Journal, marks a milestone in its recognition as an established treatment for cancer.
It also holds good news for patients considering their treatment options. (more…)
The prestigious International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics, or Red Journal, has devoted an entire issue to the subject of particle therapy—bringing protons into the limelight of medical practice. It is the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.
Much of the nearly 600-page issue, nearly double the normal size, includes 75 articles ranging from clinical outcomes to commentary on a modality increasingly gaining recognition as a preferred option for treatment of tumors. (more…)