Cancer risk awareness and screening uptake in individuals at higher risk for colon cancer

Salimzadeh, H. et al. (2016) BMJ Open. 6:e013833

Objective: We aimed to measure cancer knowledge and feasibility of a screening colonoscopy among a cohort of individuals at higher risk of colon cancer.

 

Conclusions: Our data indicated that remarkable numbers of FDRs were not still informed of their cancer risk or never received a physician recommendation for screening. The desirable uptake at first invitation, which would be higher over successive invitations, supports the feasibility of a family-based recruitment approach for early screening. This has promising implications to introduce targeted screening colonoscopy into the healthcare system in Iran and other developing nations.

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Transformation fund call to bid

To support the implementation of the Five Year Forward View vision of better health, better patient care and improved NHS efficiency, NHS England has created a transformation fund | NHS England

The interventions for which transformation funding are available are:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Mental Health
• Learning Disabilities

Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) are central to this process and all bids should be explicitly linked to the relevant local STP plans. This process is open to any STP, although individual organisations or alliances may bid on behalf of an STP for this funding; submission of applications must be via STPs.

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Is upfront stereotactic radiosurgery a rational treatment option for very elderly patients with brain metastases?

Yomo, S & Hayashi, M. BMC Cancer. Published online: 15 December 2016

Image source: Suffian, I. et al. – Wellcome Images // CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

 

Image shows false-coloured scanning electron micrograph of human cancer stem cells isolated from patients with brain cancer

Background: Advanced age has been shown to be a factor predicting poor survival in patients with brain metastases (BM). There have been only a few studies focusing on stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for elderly BM patients. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy and limitations of SRS for very elderly BM patients.

Conclusions: The present study suggested an upfront SRS strategy to offer a feasible and effective treatment option for very elderly patients with limited BM. In the majority of patients, neurological death could be delayed or even prevented.

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NSAIDs and Endometrial Carcinoma Mortality and Recurrence

Brasky, T.M. et al. (2017) JNCI: Journal of National Cancer Institute. 109(3) djw251

Image source: Maurice Mikkers – Wellcome Images // CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Image shows cross polarised light micrograph of diclofenac.

Background: Recent data suggest that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be associated with reductions in endometrial cancer risk, yet very few have examined whether their use is related to prognosis among endometrial cancer patients.

 

Conclusions: In this study, use of NSAIDs was associated with increased endometrial carcinoma–specific mortality, especially in patients with type I tumors. Barring a clear biologic mechanism by which NSAIDs would increase the risk of cause-specific mortality, cautious interpretation is warranted.

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Almost 20% of breast cancer patients fail to complete prescribed endocrine therapy

The study in over 5,500 women found that younger patients and those who had taken hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were less likely to  adhere to their medicine | ScienceDaily

Image source: Wellcome Images // CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Around 20% of breast cancer patients do not complete prescribed endocrine therapy, researchers report at the ESMO Asia 2016 Congress in Singapore.

The study included 5,544 women with ER positive breast cancer who collected at least one prescription of aromatase inhibitors or tamoxifen and had five years of follow up data. Women were identified and prescription information was obtained from the regional registers of Uppsala-Örebro, Stockholm-Gotland, and Northern Sweden which cover around 60% of the Swedish population. The data was linked to Swedish national registers with information about factors which could influence adherence. Adherence was calculated from the drugs dispensed — patients were classified as non-adherent if they received less than 80% of the drugs needed over five years.

During the five years, 20% of the women became non-adherent. In the multivariable analysis the strongest independent predictors of non-adherence were younger age, previous use of HRT, marital status, and socioeconomic status (measured by type of employment).

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National Prostate Cancer Audit 2016 Annual Report

Image source: http://www.hqip.org.uk/

90% of men receiving curative treatment for prostate cancer say their care was very good

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the United Kingdom, with about 40,000 new cases each year resulting in 10,000 deaths. The NPCA audit looks at whether NHS services in England and Wales for men diagnosed with prostate cancer meet recommended standards.

This is the third Annual Report from the National Prostate Cancer Audit (NPCA) and presents current data regarding prostate cancer care in England and in Wales. In this report, the NPCA gathered information directly from patients to find out their views of their experience of care and the functional impact of radical treatments on their lives.

The full report is available to download here

View press release here

Using patient experience to improve outcomes after treatment

Proven, D. & Rennie, C. (2016) Cancer Nursing Practice. 15(10) pp. 19-22.

The Transforming Care After Treatment (TCAT) programme aims to improve care for people living with and beyond cancer in Scotland. The direct involvement of people affected by cancer is integral to the programme’s design and its overall success. Under the TCAT programme a project team in NHS Ayrshire and Arran has worked with people affected by cancer to review and redesign its breast and colorectal cancer pathways. The outcomes of the project have demonstrated the value of ongoing user involvement in the development of an intervention. This allows for rapid feedback and insight into experiences, and services have become more efficient, effective and person-centred.

Read the abstract here

 

New framework sets out expectations for all levels of cancer nursing practice

Evans, N. (2016) Cancer Nursing Practice. 15(10) pp. 8-9. 

The Career and Education Framework for Cancer Nursing sets out a list of skills, competencies and knowledge expected at seven different levels of practice. It is the culmination of detailed and collaborative working between leading cancer nurses, who say it breaks new ground for the profession.

Read the abstract here

Localized immunotherapy new possibility to treat bladder cancer

New findings from IGP show an alternative way to administer the therapy, which has the same effect on the tumour but less impact other parts of the body | ScienceDaily

Image source: Wellcome Images // CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Image shows photomicrograph (magnification X60) of botyroidal rhabdomyoscarcoma of the bladder

In the study immune activation was achieved by administering blocking antibodies close to the tumour. The results complement the researcher’s previous findings where they found that a direct immune stimulatory antibody had superior anti-tumour capacity when used locally at the tumour, as compared to after injection into the blood.

The hope is also that the immune cells, not the drug itself, can find potential metastases and eliminate them. To understand if and how this is happening, further research is required. The present results are based on studies in mice and to determine if drug administration to the tumour results in fewer adverse events in patients, as compared to injections into the blood stream, clinical studies are also needed.

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Read the original research abstract here

Lung Cancer Clinical Outcome Publication 2016

The clinical outcomes publication is an NHS England initiative to publish quality measures at unit level and the level of individual consultant doctor using national clinical audit and administrative data | RCoP

Image source: RCoP

The aims of publishing these results are to:

• reassure patients that the quality of clinical care is high
• assist patients in having an informed conversation with their consultant or GP about the procedure or operation they may have
• provide information to individuals, teams and organisations to allow them to monitor and improve the quality of the clinical care they provide locally and nationally.

Read the overview here

Read the full report here