July 2022 Notable News

July 2022 Notable News

July brings important advances in cancer research that can lead to better patient outcomes. Research has shown that adult cancer survivors have an increased risk in developing heart disease and heart related complications. More studies are needed to determine why black leukemia patients are having worse outcomes than white leukemia patients of the same age. A portable screening test is bringing early diagnosis of cervical cancer for women in lower income and more isolated areas.

Adult Cancer Survivors have Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Than Those Without Cancer, Study Shows

Adult survivors of cancer have a higher risk of heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD) later in life than adults without cancer, according to results of a large study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers reports MedicalXpress.com. Cancer patients that have used treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation to the chest area are at a higher risk because of the damage it causes to the heart. These patients have an increased risk for heart failure and stroke. With the advances in treatment, cancer patients are living longer which makes it more likely to have heart disease. The causes of this damage are oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiac toxicity from treatments, on top of the regular risk factors of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. It is important to teach prevention of heart disease to cancer patients due to their increase risks. Find more information here.

Black Leukemia Patients Have Higher Risk of Death Than White Counterparts

The new study, which looked at outcomes or patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), highlights an urgent need to understand racial and ethnic differences, as well as the inequities in diagnosis, treatment and care between Black and White patients reports UPInews.com. AML is a rapidly progressing cancer that requires treatment immediately upon diagnosis, making the findings of this research even more important. Black people with this cancer have and increased rate of early death and a lower rate of long-term survivability than white cancer patients of the same age. Black cancer patients are underrepresented in clinical trials and research, studies have been primarily focused on people of European descent. Treatment delays and providing lower quality of care also play a role in these results. More research with a more diverse study group is urgently needed to improve patient outcomes. Find more information here.

Easier, Early Cervical Cancer Testing to Save Lives

Prevention and the HPV vaccine is helping to reduce the numbers of women dying with cervical cancer, but new portable screening kits and new types of lab tests will improve diagnosis and earlier treatment of the disease reports MedicalXpress.com. Cervical cancer is the fourth common cause of cancer for women, and it is highly treatable if diagnosed early. Most deaths occur in women from lower income countries that have limited screening available, there can be delays getting results and delays to treatment. If a woman is diagnosed in an advanced stage of cancer, time makes a big difference in survivability. Scientists have developed a portable screening kit called Elevate. This kit requires little training and women can collect it themselves, the results are returned in one day. The kit uses DNA to look for HPV, the virus that can cause cervical cancer. Elevate is being used in isolated areas where medical care is difficult to get to, as well as for women that are too busy to get the care they need. Find more information here.