Because I am a widow, I am acutely aware of the problems in our medical system with palliative care. One of the problems is that people are not introduced to palliative care until very late in their disease process. The NCCN has released new palliative care guidelines. HemOnc Today ran an article today about the [...]
The FDA has a news article on their website related to a bill that will be introduced this week. A bill establishing a comparative-effectiveness research institute is scheduled for introduction in the Senate this week, congressional staffers say. The Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008, sponsored by Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.), [...]
The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will be sponsoring a forum on the development of drugs for Oncology and the FDA. Prostate cancer advocates who have an interest in this area may be interested in attending. Oncology Drug Development: Rethinking FDA Oversight Start: Thursday, March 13, 2008 8:30 AM End: Friday, March 14, 2008 12:30 PM [...]
Are we failing in our advocacy efforts? What can we do to change that? According to the New York Times the situation for men diagnosed with prostate cancer is muddled. They say: The reasons behind the lack of data on prostate cancer are complex. A lack of financing and advocacy have roles. But so does [...]
This study is important in Manton bill discussions with your legislators. Please share this article with your senators and congressperson and ask them to support this important legislation. For more information about the bill: The American Cancer Society (ACS) reported this week that Medicaid and uninsured cancer patients are far more likely to be diagnosed [...]
I am asked by men and women why Gleason scores sometime change from the biopsy after surgery. Below is an explanation from Paul Carpenter that put it in easy to understand terms. He said he would be happy if others used his analogy. This is what he said: Hi Sue, Here's an analogy to explain [...]
There was recently a conference call with breast cancer patient advocates and researchers held by the Research Advocacy Network. The Audio recording from the 1/28/2008 Discussion on ODAC vote on Avastin and Clinical Trial Endpoints Available The audio recording from the discussion call held on 1/28/2008 to address questions on the ODAC vote on Avastin [...]
Researchers at Yale University searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Medicare database and found that there has been little improvement in treatment levels for Black men with prostate cancer. Statistics were similar for patients with lung, breast, and colon cancers. Advocates are challenged to identify why this is happening and what we can [...]
The New Year is here. This year if everyone makes a resolution to do one advocacy activity each month then the prostate cancer community will be a force to reckon with in 2008. For January you can learn about the proposed Manton Legislation. You can write to your legislators and ask them to join the [...]
One way that prostate cancer advocates can make a major difference in the disease is to get involved with the research process as a research advocate. How do you do that effectively? Nancy Roach, the president and chair of C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition recently wrote an article for CR magazine that will give you tips [...]
