Cancer Information Highlights, October 25, 2017

Cancer Information Highlights, October 25, 2017

Cancer Information Highlights

From the National Cancer Institute

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

New from NCI Tumor DNA Sequencing in Cancer Treatment   Tumor DNA sequencing (also called genetic profiling or genetic testing) is a test to identify DNA changes in a patient’s cancer. In some cases, this information can help doctors determine a treatment plan. Video—Facebook Live Event: Talking Through Treatment and Care for Childhood Cancer   If you missed the live broadcast, you can now watch the recording of our Facebook Live event. Listen to Dr. Brigitte Widemann from NCI and Jennie Lucca from the NIH Children's Inn discuss treatment for childhood cancer and the role of the Children's Inn in cancer care. Limited Lymph Node Removal Okay for Some Women with Breast Cancer Long-term results from a large clinical trial confirm that, for some women with early-stage breast cancer who have surgery to remove only the cancer, removal of fewer lymph nodes does not compromise survival and may reduce side effects such as lymphedema. FDA Approves Pembrolizumab for Stomach Cancer The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) for use in patients with advanced stomach cancer that is positive for the protein PD-L1. Copanlisib Approved for Follicular Lymphoma FDA has granted accelerated approval to copanlisib (Aliqopa™) for the treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Drug Information Updates New Drug for Breast Cancer We've added a new drug information summary for abemaciclib. It was recently approved by FDA to treat certain types of advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Also of Interest Care for Childhood Cancer Survivors While the completion of your child’s cancer treatment is something to celebrate, it may also bring new challenges. Learn about follow-up care after treatment, long-term and late effects to watch for, and questions to ask the doctor. Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes that are used instead of table sugar to sweeten foods and drinks. This fact sheet reviews research studies that have looked at the connection between artificial sweeteners and cancer. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test The PSA test measures the level of a protein that is often higher than normal in men with prostate cancer. This fact sheet describes the test’s use as a screening test for prostate cancer and explains the benefits and risks of the test.