June 2021 Vol 7 No 3

In this heartfelt poem, Priya Kalra writes about riding the challenging waves of emotions after being diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2017.

Speech-language pathologist Stacey Brill, MS, CCC-SLP, shares her journey by her mom’s side as she battled cancer, and the subsequent care and services she had provided to many patients with cancer, in her mom’s memory.

In May 2021, the FDA approved Rybrevant (amivantamab-vmjw), an intravenous antibody that targets mutations in the EGFR and MET pathways, for the treatment of adults with non–small-cell lung cancer and EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. This is the first drug approved for lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.

In May 2021, the FDA approved Lumakras (sotorasib), an oral KRAS inhibitor, for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer associated with KRAS G12C mutation. Lumakras is the first drug approved for any cancer associated with any KRAS mutation.

In April 2021, the FDA approved Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine), the first CD19-directed antibody–drug conjugate, for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma.

“Because gastric cancers involve the digestive system, following a healthy diet is especially important for patients with this type of cancer,” says Martha Raymond, Founding Executive Director of the GI Cancers Alliance.

Dr. Marshall Williams, Editorial Board member of CONQUER: the patient voice, and public health professional at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted the urgent need to address racial disparities in cancer care.

In March 2021, the FDA approved a new indication for Sarclisa (isatuximab-irfc), in combination with Kyprolis and dexamethasone, for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Judy Pearson offers a compelling and inspiring historical perspective of the formation of the cancer survivorship movement in the United States, and what this means to cancer survivors today.