NEWS & RESEARCH

If you are infected with hepatitis B or C, and your body does not clear the virus, it can cause long-term, or chronic illness. This can lead to liver damage and liver cancer. Hepatitis C also can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections have few or no symptoms. Hepatitis B is spread through infected blood, semen and other body fluids. The best way to protect yourself against hepatitis B is to get vaccinated. Some people also should be screened. Who should be vaccinated against hepatitis B? guidelines recommend that all infants be vaccinated against hepatitis B at

Angiogenesis is the process of creating new blood vessels. Some cancerous tumors are very efficient at creating new blood vessels, which increases blood supply to the tumor and allows it to grow rapidly. Cancer cells begin the angiogenesis process by sending signals to nearby tissue and activating growth factors that allow the tumor to form new blood vessels. One such molecule is called vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF. Researchers developed drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors, or anti-angiogenic therapy, to disrupt the growth process. These drugs search out and bind themselves to VEGF molecules, which prohibits them from activating receptors on

Even if a patient has a molecule that can be targeted, in some cases the drug stops working after a period of time. This usually occurs when the cancer finds some other way to finish the job the targeted therapy is made to stop. Repeating genomic testing can sometimes help determine how the tumor outsmarted the drug. Targeted therapies can be given in pill form or through an infusion and may be given along with another treatment like chemotherapy or immunotherapy. There are two main types of targeted therapy drugs: Small molecule drugs can easily enter the cells and interfere

Traditional chemotherapy works by killing cells that multiply quickly, whether normal or cancerous. Targeted therapy, a type of precision medicine, is different. It works by stopping or slowing the growth or spread of cancer. This happens on a cellular level. Cancer cells need specific molecules, often in the form of proteins, to survive, multiply and spread. These molecules are usually made by the genes that cause cancer, as well as the cells themselves. Targeted therapies are designed to interfere with, or target, these molecules or the cancer-causing genes that create them. In some cases, the drug will attach to the

A quick scan of the American Cancer Society’s resources on the fertility and sexual side effects of cancer reveals something interesting: On just about every page of the organization’s site, a version of the same phrase is included—and bolded: “Don’t assume your doctor or nurse will ask you about these and other concerns about sexuality. You might have to start the conversation.” Cancer and its various treatments impact sexuality in profound ways. Treatment for gynecologic cancers, for example, can remove key reproductive organs or send women into early menopause, taking away their ability to have children; physical and hormonal changes

Health insurance and managed care plans rarely cover all the costs of cancer treatment, so it’s important to find out what is and is not covered by your policy. Uncovered expenses are the patient’s responsibility.  Travel and lodging costs can add up quickly and must be considered along with treatment expenses. It is important to have a clear understanding of your cancer diagnosis and treatment goals. Advance care planning allows you to identify your preferences for care and how they should be handled if you become unable to do so. It helps to discuss this information with your family and healthcare