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Computer program may help doctors accurately predict a patient's prognosis

When cancer spreads, it becomes more difficult to treat. At this stage, doctors often no longer treat the disease with the intent to eliminate it, but to manage the symptoms and reduce pain.

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Handheld device may diagnose sarcoma tumours in real-time

Soft tissue sarcoma is a broad category that includes more than 50 different types of tumours that grow in tissues such as muscle and fat. These subtypes differ from each other, both in their makeup at the molecular levels, and in how they behave. As such, the different types need to be treated differently, with survival varying between the subtypes.

New findings on preventable cancer burden

The ComPARe study is the most comprehensive, up-to-date study on the preventable burden of cancer in Canada.

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How the HPV vaccine works

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What is immunotherapy?

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The challenges behind the fight against cancer

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A new understanding of obesity and cancer

The link between obesity and cancer has become increasingly clear over the past decades. Current research suggests that obesity is a contributing factor for many types of cancer and can affect the likelihood of disease relapse. As obesity rates climb higher and higher, researchers are exploring different strategies for helping people manage their weight and their cancer diagnosis. Read more in a story from The Toronto Star.

Cancer coaches help patients navigate their diagnosis

Cancer coaches are a standard part of the healthcare system in Australia and England but are just starting to gain a foothold in Canada. The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation is the only cancer care centre in Canada that employs paid cancer coaches. Cancer coaches work closely with individual patients to help them navigate their diagnosis and provide a wide range of support, including creating medication plans, managing finances and improving nutrition and exercise. By listening to and…

Unleashing the power of the immune system

Immunotherapy is arguably the most exciting new cancer treatment today and holds great promise in helping people with cancer live longer. This article from The New York Times offers an excellent primer of immunotherapy, its successes and shortcomings, and where the field needs to go from here.

Studies warn against minimally invasive surgery for cervical cancer

Minimally invasive surgery is often viewed as better for the patient because the recovery time is shorter. However, two recently published studies have shown that, for cervical cancer, minimally invasive surgery resulted in more disease relapse and death compared to the older, open abdominal surgery. These findings have led many leading hospitals in the US to discontinue minimally invasive surgeries for women with cervical cancer. Read more in a story from The New York Times.

Little benefit to additional cancer screening for patients with advanced cancer

A new Canadian study has found that cancer screening in people who already have advanced cancer offer little benefit. Unnecessary screening for patients with late stage cancer can cause anxiety and stress, lead to painful side effects that decrease their quality of life and take precious time away from treatment or their loved ones. The researchers found that these screening tests also placed a strain on the healthcare system and are an inappropriate use of scarce resources. Read more in a story…

New Canadian guidelines for colorectal cancer screening

New guidelines from the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology urge people with a history of colorectal cancer in their immediate family to start screening earlier and get more frequent checks for the disease. People whose parents, children or siblings have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer are encouraged to get screened between ages 40 and 50, or 10 years earlier than the age at which their relative was diagnosed, whichever comes first. Read more in a story from The Globe and Mail.