Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for May 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.

Prompts May Up Goals-of-Care Dialogues at Outpatient Visits

THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A patient-specific preconversation communication-priming intervention targeting patients and clinicians is associated with an increase in goals-of-care discussions among patients with serious illness, according to a study published online May 26 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Oral Propranolol Seems Safe for Infantile Hemangioma

THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The safety profile of oral propranolol seems to be good for children with infantile hemangioma, according to a study published online May 29 in Pediatrics.

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ASHP: SVP, Injectable Opioid Shortages Threaten Patient Care

THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The widespread shortages of injectable opioids and small-volume parenteral (SVP) solutions are jeopardizing patient care and placing a strain on hospital operations, according to a report published by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

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ACS Updates Colorectal Cancer Screening to Start at Age 45

WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening should begin at age 45 for people at average risk, according to updated guidelines from the American Cancer Society published online May 30 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

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Senior CA Patients Also Benefit From Palliative Radiotherapy

WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — All patients with painful bone metastasis should be referred for palliative radiotherapy to relieve the pain, regardless of age, according to a study published online May 23 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.

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Worse Survival for BRCA Germline Mutation Carriers in Pancreatic CA

WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — BRCA1/BRCA2 germline mutation carriers with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have worse survival after resection, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

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Hypofractionated Radiotherapy Best in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

TUESDAY, May 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In an orthotopic anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) model, hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) is superior to conventionally fractionated RT, according to a study published online May 18 in Thyroid.

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Reduced-Dose Anticoagulants Feasible for Extended VTE Tx

TUESDAY, May 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For an extended duration, reduced-dose direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) may be as effective as full-dose treatment for preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a review published online May 17 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

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Prediction Tool Helps Tailor Lung Cancer Screening to Patients

TUESDAY, May 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Personalizing the harm-benefit assessment of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer can inform patient-centered screening decisions, according to a study published online May 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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FDA Approves Palynziq for Phenylketonuria

FRIDAY, May 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Palynziq (pegvaliase-pqpz) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat phenylketonuria, or PKU.

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ICU Mortality Similar for Patients With Hematologic CA ± Chemo

FRIDAY, May 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Short-term mortality is similar among patients with hematologic cancer who receive chemotherapy while in the intensive care unit (ICU) versus those who do not, according to a study published online May 4 in Cancer.

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Congress Approves Bill Expanding Private Care for VA Patients

THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients served by the beleaguered Veterans Affairs health system may have wider access to private care, thanks to a bill approved Wednesday by the Senate. President Donald Trump is known to support the bill, which now awaits his signature.

AMA Statement
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Financial Incentives May Up Rates of Smoker Abstinence

THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Financial incentives added to free cessation aids can improve the rate of sustained abstinence among smokers, according to a study published online May 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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PSA Level Three Months After Radiation Tx May Predict Outcome

THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels three months after radiotherapy (RT) are strong markers of prostate cancer outcomes for patients with intermediate- and high-risk disease, according to a study published online May 4 in Cancer.

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Global Variation in Personal Health Care Access and Quality

THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable global variation in personal health care access and quality, according to a study published online May 23 in The Lancet.

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Lung Cancer Incidence Higher for Young Women Than Young Men

WEDNESDAY, May 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lung cancer incidence is higher among young women than young men, according to a study published in the May 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Extended INR Test Intervals Safe for Warfarin-Treated Patients

WEDNESDAY, May 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For stable warfarin-treated patients, extended international normalized ratio (INR) testing can be successfully and safely implemented, according to a study published online May 15 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

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Cryoablation Efficacious for Cancer Pain, Review Finds

WEDNESDAY, May 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cryoablation is effective for controlling cancer pain without many side effects, according to a review published online May 7 in PAIN Practice.

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Surveillance Frequency Doesn’t Cut Mortality in Colorectal Cancer

TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with colorectal cancer after curative surgery, the frequency of surveillance is not associated with mortality; and, the intensity of posttreatment surveillance is not associated with detection of recurrence, according to two studies published in the May 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Abstract/Full Text – Wille-Jørgensen
Abstract/Full Text – Snyder
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Addressing Parents’ HPV Vaccine Hesitancy Ups Vaccination Rates

TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Providers engaging parents hesitant about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and addressing their concerns can lead to same-day vaccinations, according to a study published online May 15 in Pediatrics.

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From 2008 to 2014, Prostate Cancer Testing, Treatment Down

TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fewer men are being screened for, diagnosed with, and treated for prostate cancer, according to a study published online May 21 in Cancer.

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CDC: No Change in Level of Uninsured in U.S. in 2017

TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 9.1 percent of individuals in the United States were uninsured in 2017, which was not significantly different from the level in 2016, according to a report published online May 22 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Centers for Health Statistics.

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FDA OKs Doptelet for Liver Dz Patients Undergoing Procedures

MONDAY, May 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Doptelet (avatrombopag) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with chronic liver disease who are slated to have a medical or dental procedure.

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Rivaroxaban Linked to Low VTE Recurrence in Active Cancer

MONDAY, May 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with active cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE), rivaroxaban is associated with lower VTE recurrence compared with dalteparin, but with elevated clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB), according to a study published online May 10 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Language Used in Medical Record Can Affect Patient Care

FRIDAY, May 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Stigmatizing language used in medical records to describe patients can influence medical students and residents in terms of their attitudes towards the patient and their clinical decision-making, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

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Breath Test Shows Promise for Diagnosis of Esophagogastric CA

FRIDAY, May 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Breath analysis shows potential for noninvasive diagnosis of esophagogastric cancer (OGC), according to a study published online May 17 in JAMA Oncology.

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V600E BRAF Mutation Tied to Worse Survival in CRC Liver Mets

FRIDAY, May 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), the presence of the V600E BRAF mutation is associated with worse prognosis, according to a study published online May 16 in JAMA Surgery.

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Good Evidence That HPV Vaccines Protect Against Cervical Precancer

THURSDAY, May 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines protect against cervical precancer in adolescent girls and young women, according to a review published online May 9 in the Cochrane Library.

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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Efficacy Varies by Sex

THURSDAY, May 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with advanced cancers, treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors is associated with improved overall survival, with the magnitude of the benefit sex-dependent, according to research published online May 16 in The Lancet Oncology.

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Nonprofit Manufacturer Could Keep Generic Drug Costs Down

WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A nonprofit manufacturer could help keep generic drug prices down and maintain their supply, according to a perspective piece published in the May 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Higher CRC Risk With Advanced Adenoma Found on Colonoscopy

WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Participants with an advanced adenoma at diagnostic colonoscopy have increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) relative to those with no adenoma, according to a study published in the May 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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PPD Skin Test Enhances Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Tx in Bladder CA

WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, undergoing the purified protein derivative skin test prior to bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy may have therapeutic impact, according to a study published in the June issue of The Journal of Urology.

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Best Practices Developed for Use of EHR to Enhance Patient Care

WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Best practices have been developed for using electronic health records (EHRs) to enhance patient-centered care, according to an article published online in Medical Economics.

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FDA Approves ‘Biosimilar’ Drug to Treat Certain Types of Anemia

TUESDAY, May 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Retacrit (epoetin alfa-epbx) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the first “biosimilar” to the anemia drugs Epogen and Procrit.

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Peripheral Neuropathy Common in Childhood Cancer Survivors

TUESDAY, May 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Childhood cancer survivors frequently have clinical abnormalities attributable to peripheral neuropathy, according to a study published online May 14 in JAMA Neurology.

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Novel Algorithm Can Help Create 3-D Human Nose Prosthesis

TUESDAY, May 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An algorithm can be used to model and print a three-dimensional (3-D) prosthesis of a human nose, according to a study published online May 10 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

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Risk Models Help Select Ever Smokers for Lung CA Screening

MONDAY, May 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Four lung cancer risk models perform best in selecting ever-smokers for screening, according to a study published online May 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Teledermatology Could Expedite Care for Suspected Skin Cancer

MONDAY, May 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Teledermatology for suspected skin cancer is slightly more expensive than usual care, but it expedites time to clinical resolution, according to a study published online May 9 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Overall, Drinking Wine Does Not Impact Prostate Cancer Risk

MONDAY, May 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Moderate wine consumption does not seem to impact the risk of prostate cancer, according to a review published online April 17 in Clinical Epidemiology.

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Screening Blood Donations for Zika Virus Is Costly, Low Yield

FRIDAY, May 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Screening blood donations for Zika virus (ZIKV) in the United States is costly with low yield, according to a study published in the May 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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CKAP4 Is Novel Serodiagnostic Marker for Lung Cancer

FRIDAY, May 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cytoskeleton-associated protein 4 (CKAP4) appears to be a novel serodiagnostic marker for lung cancer, with increased levels in lung cancer patients versus healthy controls, according to a study published online May 8 in The American Journal of Pathology.

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FDA Targets Clinics Offering Unapproved Stem Cell Therapies

THURSDAY, May 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched legal action to stop two stem cell clinics from providing unapproved treatments that have caused serious, long-term harm to some patients.

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Uveal Effusion Reported After Initiation of Anti-PD-1, -PD-L1

THURSDAY, May 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients receiving immunotherapy with antiprogrammed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD-1) and antiprogrammed cell death ligand-1 (anti-PD-L1) monoclonal antibodies may develop uveal effusion, according to a report published online April 12 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

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Many Oncologists Discuss, Recommend Medical Marijuana

THURSDAY, May 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many oncologists recommend medical marijuana (MM) clinically despite not feeling sufficiently knowledgeable about its utility, according to a study published online May 10 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Nodal Metastasis Risk Up When Cancer Is Directly on the Lip

THURSDAY, May 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk of nodal metastasis is five-fold greater for skin cancer on the vermilion lip versus the cutaneous lip, according to a study published online May 2 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Cost Savings Limited With Generic Imatinib

WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prices of imatinib (Gleevec) remained high even after a generic version was introduced, according to a study published in the May issue of Health Affairs.

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Lymphoma, Leukemia Survivors Have Increased Health Care Use

WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have increased use of health care services versus a normative population, according to a study published online April 26 in Cancer.

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Crowdfunding Exaggerates Efficacy of Unproven Stem Cell Tx

WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Crowdfunding campaigns for unproven stem cell-based interventions tend to exaggerate the efficacy and underemphasize the risks, according to a research letter published in the May 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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USPSTF: Decision to Undergo PSA Screening Should Be Individual

TUESDAY, May 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the decision to undergo periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer should be an individual one for men aged 55 to 69 years. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement, published in the May 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Evidence Report
Final Recommendation Statement
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Intravesical Gemcitabine Therapy Cuts Bladder Cancer Recurrence

TUESDAY, May 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Immediate post-resection intravesical installation of gemcitabine is associated with reduced recurrence over four years for patients with suspected low-grade non-muscle-invasive urothelial cancer, according to a study published in the May 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Regulatory Requirements Drive Dissatisfaction With EHRs

TUESDAY, May 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Regulatory requirements are likely to be an important aspect of physician dissatisfaction with electronic health records (EHRs) that is driving burnout, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online May 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk for Endometrial Cancer Survivors

TUESDAY, May 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Endometrial cancer survivors have an elevated risk of various adverse long-term cardiovascular outcomes, according to a study published online May 8 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

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Type 2 Diabetes Ups Risk of Renal Cancer in Women, but Not Men

TUESDAY, May 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Type 2 diabetes is independently associated with a greater risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in women, but not in men, according to a study published online April 20 in Diabetes Care.

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Cancer Incidences and Burden Expected to Shift in HIV-Positive

MONDAY, May 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The cancer burden among persons living with HIV (PLWH) is projected to shift by 2030, according to a study published online May 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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FDA Approves Drug Combo for Aggressive Thyroid Cancer

MONDAY, May 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Two anti-cancer drugs administered together have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat BRAF-positive anaplastic thyroid cancer.

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Parenting Fears Harm Well-Being of Women With Metastatic Cancer

MONDAY, May 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among women with metastatic cancer and dependent children, parenting concerns negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQOL), according to a study published online May 7 in Cancer.

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Poor Prognosis for Interval Breast Cancer After Negative Mammo

MONDAY, May 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The likelihood of having breast cancer with a poor prognosis is increased for cancer diagnosed after a screening mammography with negative results, according to a research letter published online May 3 in JAMA Oncology.

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Many Organizations Not Meeting Trial Reporting Requirements

FRIDAY, May 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many organizations are not meeting the trial registration and results reporting requirements clarified by “The Final Rule,” which had a compliance date of April 18, 2017, according to a study published online May 1 in BMC Medicine.

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CTC Status Predicts RT Benefit in Early-Stage Breast Cancer

THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Circulating tumor cell status is predictive of radiotherapy (RT) benefit in early-stage breast cancer, according to a study published online May 3 in JAMA Oncology.

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Five Strategies to Reduce Acute Care for Cancer Patients ID’d

THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Five major strategies exist for reducing acute care for patients with cancer, according to a review published online April 17 in the Journal of Oncology Practice.

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Reporting Outcomes Per Surgeon Tied to Drop in CRC Sx Mortality

THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The introduction of public reporting of surgeon specific 90-day postoperative mortality in elective colorectal cancer surgery is associated with a reduction in observed 90-day mortality, according to a study published online May 2 in The BMJ.

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Mortality Risk Persists for Cancer Tied to Prenatal DES Exposure

THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Diethylstilbestrol (DES)-related clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix is associated with increased risk of death, even in older women, according to a letter to the editor published in the May 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Gender Disparity Observed in Cancer Genetic Testing in the U.S.

THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Specific demographic groups have lower cancer genetic testing, including unaffected men compared with unaffected women, according to a research letter published online April 26 in JAMA Oncology.

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Nodal Response to Pre-Op Tx Tied to Survival in Esophageal Cancer

WEDNESDAY, May 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer, the status of lymph nodes following preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation therapy determines survival, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, held from April 28 to May 1 in San Diego.

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Palliative Care Consult Can Cut Hospital Costs in Seriously Ill

WEDNESDAY, May 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For hospitalized adults with serious illness, receiving a palliative care consultation (PCC) is associated with a reduction in hospital costs, according to a review published online April 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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In Retinoblastoma Survivors, Oculo-Visual Issues Tied to QoL

WEDNESDAY, May 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Oculo-visual problems among adult retinoblastoma survivors are associated with patient-reported vision-targeted health-related quality of life (HRQoL), according to a study published online April 26 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

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Knowledge of Causes of Cancer Low in General Population

TUESDAY, May 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among the general population, awareness of actual and mythical causes of cancer is poor, according to a study published online April 25 in the European Journal of Cancer.

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Practices Should Be Aware of Correct Way to Fire Employees

TUESDAY, May 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should be aware of the correct protocol for, as well as the laws involved in, firing employees, according to a report published in Medical Economics.

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