June 2019 Vol 5 No 3

Brigid Wallace contemplates the choices she made when living in the “new normal” after her cancer diagnosis. She describes the struggles and personal victories that tested her faith and strength after she learned she had non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Dennis Golden was an active, fit, 70-year-old when he learned he had prostate cancer. He was surprised to discover that few men know the warning signs and how potentially serious it can be. In response, he formed the National Prostate Cancer Awareness Foundation to educate men about this disease.

Fatigue is a common complaint of people facing cancer that can affect them during and after treatment. Registered Dietitian Julie Lanford provides tips on energy-boosting foods and simple nourishment ideas to help combat fatigue during cancer.

“A cancer diagnosis can derail even the best methods of communication,” says oncology social worker Katie Narvarte. She offers tips on how to address difficult topics related to cancer, and how to avoid saying the wrong things.

In May 2019, the FDA approved Tibsovo for the treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and an IDH1 mutation, or for patients with AML who are unable to use intensive chemotherapy.

In May 2019, the FDA approved Piqray (alpelisib), the first PI3K inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with a PI3KCA mutation in postmenopausal women, and in men. An FDA spokesperson said it was the first treatment “to demonstrate a clinically meaningful benefit” for this type of breast cancer.

In February 2019, the FDA issued a letter to raise awareness of the risk for a rare type of lymphoma, BIA-ALCL, that is linked to all types of breast implants. Although this is an uncommon reaction to implants, all women who have or intend to get an implant after breast cancer should be aware of this risk. Learn more about this risk here.

Many false notions about cancer circulate online and among patients and their family members and friends. These myths often are not based on scientific evidence and may prevent people from receiving best treatments or add misplaced anxiety. Dr. Pankaj Vashi debunks some of these common myths.