Top in hem/onc: Rise in late-stage cancer diagnoses; high lung cancer risk in smokers
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Data show that late-stage cancer diagnoses are rising in the United States due to the drop in screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healio spoke with experts about these increases in late-stage cancer diagnoses, ongoing efforts to bring screenings back to pre-pandemic levels, and the potential long-term impact of screening disruptions on clinical practice. It was the top story in hematology/oncology last week.
The second top story was about a study that showed a significant increased risk for lung cancer among older adult smokers for whom screening is not recommended. Researchers said the findings highlight the need for prediction models to identify high-risk subsets of patients who may benefit from screening.
Read these and more top stories in hematology/oncology below:
Late-stage cancer diagnoses rise after pandemic-related drop in screenings
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of cancer screenings in the U.S. dropped sharply as states imposed stay-at-home orders and health care providers sought to reduce exposure to the virus and redeployed personnel. Read more.
Lung cancer risk high among smokers for whom screening is not recommended
Community-dwelling older adult smokers for whom annual low-dose CT screening is not recommended had a 10-fold higher risk for lung cancer compared with never smokers, according to study results. Read more.
Fear of cancer recurrence ‘very common and requires attention’
For survivors of cancer and its treatment, fear of disease recurrence is an overarching struggle, even years after active treatment. Read more.
MD Anderson again ranked best cancer hospital in US
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has retained its distinction as the No. 1 cancer hospital in the country. Read more.
More than 15% of patients at risk for rare cancers missed screenings during COVID
In rare hereditary cancers such as paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma, where patients travel for their care, COVID-19 caused a disruption in their screening and treatments, according to a poster presented during ASCO Annual Meeting. Read more.