Each year the oncology world gathers in Chicago in the first week of June for the ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) conference, at which much of the year's major research findings are unveiled. For those who may have an interest in reading about some of the presentations that will be made ASCO has released abstracts that provide basic information about each of these studies. You can browse through those abstracts here: http://abstract.asco.org/176/CatView_176_B.html

JimC
Forum moderator

Seeking Research Participants for "Bridging the Gap: Chronic Disease Self-Management Transitions"

The objective of this study is determine the information that you, as a patient, need and want during hospitalization to help you plan for discharge. Self-management of cancer as a chronic disease is the focus of this study. You must live in the United States, be at least 18 years old, currently or previously been diagnosed with cancer, and must have been hospitalized after receiving a diagnosis of cancer. The hospitalization does not have to be directly related to cancer. You will be asked to recall how information was shared with you during your hospitalization, if you had the information you needed when you got home, and how you think information sharing during hospitalization can be improved. Your participation in the study will contribute to a better understanding of how healthcare providers can meet the information needs of patients during hospitalization.

Please visit our webpage for more information (http://nursing.utexas.edu/tcrss/program/gap.html) or directly access the survey here: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cuAcZITOKoY9D3n.

The principal investigator for the research study is Dr. Marge Benham-Hutchins, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin. For questions regarding the study please contact her at (512) 475-6351 or mbenhamhutchins@austin.utexas.edu.

There’s still time to register for the 2015 GRACE Immunotherapy Patient Forum, to be held November 7, 2015 in National Harbor, MD. Meet with medical specialists and fellow patients and caregivers to discuss the latest information on the exciting new immunotherapies. Follow this link http://cancergrace.org/register-now-the-2015-immunotherapy-patient-foru…

Janine
Forum moderator

Hi, had a CT scan for a kidney problem and inadvertently they found something on my lower lung. I'm trying to figure out what the radiologist is saying so maybe you can help.

"There are interstitial densities in the lung bases, right greater than left. There are also small nodular opacities in the lung bases with a non-calcified nodule measuring 6 mm in the right lung base. There are two small low density foci in the liver. They are under a centimeter in diameter and cannot be fully characterized. Further follow-up is recommended."

Does this mean there is more than one nodule? Does the liver have anything to do with the nodule(s) in the lung?

I go for a follow-up CT scan in two days.

Just wanted to give a heads up to people who may be interested that the newest Ken Burns documentary is on the Story of Cancer, and it starts tonight. It'll be running on PBS over 3 nights.

You can learn more here, including getting my thoughts in the top 5 next chapters in the story of cancer:

http://cancergrace.org/general/2015/03/29/ken-burns-cancer-documentary/

-Dr. West

Dear all,

We don't do pop-ups or send lots of messages asking for support, but we do depend on your support to continue to offer our services at no cost. I do everything I do for GRACE with no pay because I want to donate the many hours of my time, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, as well as thousands of dollars of my own money to keep it going.

I hope you will reflect on the support, timely information, and sense of community offered here, for yourself and others around the world, and make a tax-deductible donation to ensure that we can keep doing what we know truly helps people who need that help at a very difficult time.

Thanks, and a happy and healthy 2015 to all.

http://cancergrace.org/donate

-Dr. West

"CraigInPA" is our beloved and amazingly knowledgeable friend with a ROS1 rearrangement, who is a living testament to how insightful patients can become. He also highlights how patient communities can facilitate research and help themselves.

He was among our featured faculty members at the GRACE Acquired Resistance Forum in Boston in early September. You've seen his posts, so wouldn't you like to see his engaging discussion on video? It's here:

http://cancergrace.org/lung/2014/10/31/ar_forum_patient_self-education_…

I hope you find it interesting. It was very well received by everyone there.

-Dr. West

GRACE members,

Are there any GRACE members or their loved ones who have begun to receive services from Johns Hopkins new presence in the Pittsburgh area?

We have received an inquiry from a reporter for the Baltimore Business Journal who would like to communicate with a cancer patient doing so. The specific kind of cancer does not matter to her.

JimC
Forum moderator

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