Here's a new head and neck cancer video.  Not only can't I say enough about how much I appreciate learning about new findings but they speak about the fact that they have different approaches to the same case description.  Just knowing that lets me know I need to discuss my goals and options for treatment when there isn't a clear direction. 

"For this discussion, Drs. Bauml, Weiss, Gold and Mehra discuss what we have learned from Keynote 048: First Line Regiments of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy vs. Pembrolizumab and Chemo for Patients with Recurrent or Metastatic HNSCC"I

I hope this helps someone or many someones

Janine

Here's another end of year review of new data.   Watch out, it's hopeful!

"Debio/ Xevinapant Study Update What Have We Learned About Debio 1143 (Xevinapant) in Combination with Chemoradiation Therapy for Patients With HNSCC?"

GRACE is helping the University of Washington SPEAC Lab to invite people who have/had oral, head, and neck cancer (with or without total laryngectomy) to answer survey questions.  More information is available at https://sites.uw.edu/speaclab/, including a link to participate in the study. 

The purpose of this survey study is to hear about communication between:

• People who have experienced speech or voice changes following head and neck cancer; and
• Their family members, friends, and/or coworkers

Image

Hi Grace Readers,  I want to share a newly published post written by one of our board members, Nancy Sladicka.  It covers most of the most important basic tips and tricks needed to become your own advocate in cancer care. 

Maybe the most important reason to have this info is because medical oncologists, even those who specialize, can not keep up with fast moving changes in every facet of the care and treatment of their patients. 

You Have Been Diagnosed - What Next? can help you become the advocate todays healthcare user should become. 

As always, don't hesitate to ask questions and share experiences here with us.  Your experiences and questions hold much more insight to readers than you may know. 

Take care all!

Janine

How easy or difficult do you find communicating with your care team?

I came across this discussion by Dr. West, Better Communication Leads to Better Outcomes for Cancer Patients. 

I would say if you find yourself in a situation where your "communication" isn't taken as a serious piece of your cancer management remind your onc of this study...have the study especially the conclusion bookmarked or printed out to share.

More about the specifics of the trial presentation at ASCO would probably be an even better example to share and show how important the oncology community takes this info. 

Such an important piece of self-advocacy! 

Take care,

Janine

As it is currently Breast Cancer Awareness month we have created a quiz relevant to promoting breast cancer awareness. The quiz provides shocking facts on breast cancer that many people are not aware of.

If you wish you can take the quiz on our website - http://www.elanic.co.uk/BCQuiz/quiz.html

Good day to all

Two weeks back my mom was diagnosed by Bronchogenic adenocarcinoma .. they thought in the beginning that it is mesothelioma as there was a malignant pleural effusion with thickening of the pleura, but the immunophenotyping showed that it is not.
She started Alimta 950 mg last week and the doctor asked for EGFR and PET scan.

My First question is is there is any problem to do PET scan while taking Alimta, as we heard from the radiologist that it should be 4 weeks away from the chemotherapy while she is receiving Alimta every 21 days..
Is this right or we can do the PET scan ??

Second Question : i attached all the reports we have till now so i want your opinion if we are moving in the right direction or no or if anything more can be done or any other drug can be added.
the doctors said that they will give 3 doses of Alimta then they will do re evaluation..

Thanks and pray for us... h e

Hi, tech team,

If each post is long or the member has signature, the profile picture and screen name move down to the middle. I personally like them stay at the top so they can be easily seen and also make the whole look neat (I think).

Thank you,
Jing

I know there have been prior posts on the issue of glucose as it relates to cancer. My question is a little more straightforward.

Are there any GRACE members who have expertise in metabolism and the theoretical framework proposed by Dr SeyFried (Prof of Biology at Boston College who wrote the textbook Cancer as a Metabolic Disease) to explain cancer growth who would care to offer their view? If so, please post.

thanks,

peter

My name is Alex Reitemeier,
I’m a psychology student at Nottingham Trent University doing some research into cancer. I want to find out if other people’s reactions to a person’s cancer shapes and changes their self-perception. I have emailed and gotten permission from Dr. West from this websight to create this forum.
My topic is ‘Cancer patients and the feeling of ‘otherness’.
My theory is that other people’s perceptions of cancer can influence the patient. I believe that there is an overlap between self-perception and other’s perception. My research aim is to explore this overlap and look into the effects of other people’s attitudes an beliefs can have on a patient with cancer.
I am asking for volunteers to answer three questions related to my hypothesis: “cancer patients experience something known as otherness once they have been diagnosed with cancer, this feeling is influenced by the attitudes of people around them”
If you choose to participate then I will send you the three questions to answer, the first is about your own cancer, the second is other’s reactions to your cancer and the third is how that affects you.
All information collected will remain confidential and will be seen only by myself and the exam board when my coursework is handed in. If you wish to remove your information you may contact me on the email below at any time and I will of course remove it straight away.
If you are interested in taking part in my research please let me know on this forum.
and email me on alexandra.reitemeier2011@my.ntu.ac.uk I will send the brief and questions by return email. If you wish to participate but want to remain anonymous then create a new email account (e.g. participant1@gmail.com) to contact me on.
I very much appreciate your efforts if you do decide to participate,
Thank you
Alex Reitemeier