We’ve just concluded one of the most historic years on record in terms of new therapy approvals for blood cancers. In all, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 18 therapies to treat patients with blood cancers, including some entirely new agents and some new uses for already approved drugs. Among these approvals were the first new therapies – four to be precise – for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after a 40-year drought in treatment advances for this deadly blood c...
Today is a very significant day in the progress toward cancer cures. An advisory committee of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) unanimously recommended approval of a revolutionary new treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) – an immunotherapy called CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) immunotherapy. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society recognized the early promise of this new approach, which uses the body’s own immune system to...
By Margaret Martin, RD, MS, LDN, Licensed Dietitian and Nutritionist; Certified Diabetes Educator, PearlPoint Cancer Support As part of cancer treatment, you may make frequent trips to your cancer treatment center for appointments and treatment. If your treatment center isn’t close to home, this may mean extra transportation and lodging expenses. Many resources are available to cancer patients to help cover the costs of travel for treatment. The first step is to talk to your healt...
By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support Medicare is an insurance program run by the United States government. Medicare is for people who 65 years or older Under 65 but have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months Have end-stage renal disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Medicare has 4 types of possible coverage. Part A (Hospital Insurance): Part A covers inpatient care such as hospital care, nursin...
By Margaret Martin, RD, MS, LDN, Licensed Dietitian and Nutritionist; Certified Diabetes Educator, PearlPoint Cancer Support Food safety is a valuable goal year-round but especially in the warmer months. Why? More people travel and transport food during the vacation months. The outside temperatures in summer and early autumn often leave outdoor food in the danger zone, between 40 degrees and 140 degrees. Food eaten at outdoor events like picnics, tailgates, and cookouts are at a higher...
Do you ever feel sad, withdrawn, or blue? Did these feelings appear or become more pronounced after your or your loved one’s diagnosis? If so, you are not alone. Many patients and caregivers report feeling down during the course of a cancer journey. These feelings can arise when adjusting to a new diagnosis or changes in relationships. They can also arise while adjusting to life after treatment or living as a “survivor”, even many years later. Identity challenges or emotions such as gui...
Caregiving can cause a roller coaster of emotions that change over time. Finding time and outlets to cope is not always easy. Dr. Robert Winn, medical director of Deer Valley and The Canyons in Park City, knows this struggle all too well. Life was near perfect for Dr. Winn and his beloved wife Nancy. When Nancy was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), their world went tumbling out of control. Dr. Winn could not speak of Nancy's illness without getting choked up or crying, so to commun...
By Margaret Martin, RD, MS, LDN, Licensed Dietitian and Nutritionist; Certified Diabetes Educator, PearlPoint Cancer Support Many times when I speak with people who are just diagnosed with cancer, they want to change their diet immediately. I get it. They want control over something in their life when suddenly everything seems out of control. Everyone else is asking for their time, setting doctors’ appointments, and scheduling imaging and laboratory tests. Cancer survivors may tu...
By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support Lymphedema is a common side effect among cancer survivors, but it can affect any patient whose treatment plan included lymph nodes being removed by surgery or lymph nodes being damaged by radiation treatment. Lymphedema is a swelling in the arms, legs, or other parts of the body caused by a build-up of extra lymphatic fluid. Lymphatic fluid cannot flow through the body normally if lymph nodes are removed or damage...
By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support | June 2016 A lot of cancer patients and people in general have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. However, sleep is very important, especially during cancer treatment to promote healing. If you are having trouble sleeping, the first thing to do is figure out what is at the root of your difficulty sleeping—stress and anxiety, side effects, lack of peaceful sleeping environment? Once you know what is making sleep e...
