Cancer Information Highlights, December 15, 2016

Cancer Information Highlights, December 15, 2016

Cancer Information Highlights

From the National Cancer Institute

Updating you about cancer causes, prevention, screening, treatment, coping, and more

New from NCI Prescription Aid Helps Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer   Results of a new study show that subsidies for prescription drugs can increase the use of hormone therapies among women with early-stage breast cancer and may also help to decrease racial and ethnic differences in the use of these medications. No Safe Level of Smoking   A new study from NCI researchers shows that people who consistently smoked an average of less than one cigarette per day over their lifetimes had a 64 percent higher risk of earlier death than people who never smoked. Another Immunotherapy Drug Approved for Head and Neck Cancer The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved another immunotherapy drug to treat squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. This NCI Cancer Currents blog post explains the study that led to this approval. Immune-Cell Traps May Aid Metastasis A new study suggests that cancer cells may use a normal function of neutrophils, the most common form of white blood cell, to help form metastatic tumors. Researchers from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York believe this study may help fill in some of the gaps in what is known about this process. PDQ Summary Updates Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment This revision of the PDQ summary includes updates to information on diagnostic tests, risk groups, treatment options, and the treatments used for rhabdomyosarcoma in different parts of the body. Neuroblastoma Treatment We’ve updated the entire PDQ summary, including updates to the treatment options for neuroblastoma and the treatments used for different stages and risk groups. Unusual Cancers of Childhood Treatment We’ve added a new section on intraocular (eye) melanoma to our PDQ summary on unusual childhood cancers. Drug Information Updates New Approval for Multiple Myeloma We’ve updated our daratumumab summary to include a recent approval from the FDA. Daratumumab is now approved to be used with two other drugs to treat multiple myeloma in patients who have already received one other treatment.

Also of Interest Paying for Clinical Trials As you think about taking part in a clinical trial, you will face the issue of how to cover the costs of care. Learn about the types of costs associated with a clinical trial and who is responsible for which costs. Thyroid Cancer Learn about the different types of thyroid cancer and how they are treated, what causes it, and the latest statistics and research. Harms of Cigarette Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting This fact sheet lists some of the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke and describes the health problems caused by cigarette smoking and the benefits of quitting.