The definition of “therapeutic imperative” is this: A treatment necessity that must be met in order to prevent death. Once the imperative is clearly defined, addressing it properly links correct diagnosis with therapy and favorable prognosis. On the other hand, misdiagnosis or inadequate diagnosis fails to provide a framework for highly effective or curative therapy.
As the chief scientific officer of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for the past eleven years, it has been a privilege to lead a group of scientists that has doled out more than $600 million for cutting-edge hematologic oncology research. These dollars went to more than 1,000 research projects through initiatives like our biomedical research grant programs and LLS’s venture philanthropy, the Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP).
Oncological clinical trials pave the way for better patient outcomes and accelerate critical cancer treatments. Their legacy structure, however, often stands in their own way.
I was a practicing pediatric hematologist oncologist and researcher for 21 years. As a doctor, it was a tremendous privilege to be invited into the lives of patients and families dealing with blood cancers and be entrusted with their care. As a researcher, it was incredibly rewarding to help bring more effective blood cancer therapies to kids.
Almost all of us who have practiced oncology for years have encountered situations where we have had to counsel caregivers and guide them throughout their loved ones’ journeys. We have faced patients who took complementary therapies to an extreme; some to a point where they wouldn’t share what they were taking for fear that we might demand they stop.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Accurate and early detection of CRC and precancerous lesions is critical for reducing incidence and preventing deaths from this disease.
The world of cancer treatments continues to evolve, and for those diagnosed with blood cancers, a new option can be found in menin inhibitors—the latest form of targeted therapy in advanced acute leukemia.
Hodgkin lymphoma has long been a model disease in the field of oncology—one of the first diseases we learned to cure with radiation and ultimately chemotherapy.
In this week’s issue of JAMA Oncology, there is an important paper that provides information concerning the long-term adverse effects and complications of prostate cancer screening and treatment.1
After reading “Breast Cancer Mortality Continues Three-Decade Decline, but Steeper Increases for Women Under 50 & AAPI Women of All Ages,” it is evident that while overall progress is being made in the fight against cancer, concerning disparities remain—particularly within the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities.
