February 2021 Vol 7 No 1
Issue Introductions
In her February 2021 introduction, Lillie Shockney focuses on the forgotten value of human touch during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting several patient stories, as well as an article that offers a historical perspective of the war on cancer.
Breast CancerPatient Stories
Edward Sawa was waking up with headaches that disrupted his daily activities and ended up being diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia and breast cancer. Read the lessons he’s learned as a male with breast cancer.
Patient StoriesLung Cancer
When Veronica Brent had a constant cough and shortness of breath from walking, her daughter suggested she should have a chest x-ray. The x-ray showed she had lung cancer, and a biopsy showed she had cancer on the pancreas. She was concerned how to break the news to the family.
Art Inspired
When Deborah Dekoff lost her red hair because of cancer treatment, she received many hats from friends and family. Using her sense of humor, she turned these hats into art by taking fun photographs with them.
Family Members
Sindhu Addepalli, who is starting her career as a doctor, tells the touching story of how her family dealt with her aunt’s cancer during the pandemic, and how this experience influences her practice of medicine.
Breast CancerFDA Approvals, News & Updates
In December 2020, the FDA approved Margenza (margetuximab-cmkb), a new targeted therapy, for the treatment of patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, representing an important new option for patients with this type of breast cancer that continues to progress despite different treatments.
Brain CancerSurvivorship
To deal with grade 3 astrocytoma, a type of brain cancer, Matt Newman turned to writing personal e-mails to his friends and family as a way of dealing with the challenges he was facing. He shares his insights on the life lessons he has learned.
Skin CancerCancer Screening
Dr. Andrew Weinstein, a dermatologist, stresses the importance of monitoring skin changes regularly, giving advice and information regarding skin cancer, the most common cancer in the USA.
Cancer ResearchClinical Trials
Dana Dornsife, Founder and CEO of Lazarex Cancer Foundation, examines the importance of cancer clinical trials, noting that only about 5% of patients enrolled in clinical trials are from minority communities, something that needs to change.
Breast CancerSurvivorship
By Judy Pearson
Judy Pearson describes her personal fight with cancer, providing a historical perspective on the war on cancer, which was officially launched in 1971, when cancer was believed to be contagious, showing just how far we’ve come, with new types of cancer therapies leading the way.