Alexandre Chan, PharmD, MPH is a chair and professor of clinical pharmacy at University of California, Irvine (UCI). He is affiliated with the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive cancer Center as well as the National cancer Centre Singapore. Dr. Chan has worked with people with cancer for almost 20 years, and he has conducted a wide array of research in supportive care, toxicities management, and cancer survivorship. Quinton (Ding Quan) Ng, BS (Pharm)(Hons), is a PhD Candidate at UCI and a registered pharmacist from Singapore. Mr. Ng’s research expertise spans across domains of epidemiology, biostatistics, and biomarker analysis, with a primary focus in treating and preventing adverse health outcomes in people with cancer. You can follow Dr. Chan and Mr. Ng on X, formerly known as Twitter. View disclosure information for Dr. Chan. Mr. Ng has no relationships to disclose.

Over the past decade, the use of electronic cigarettes, also called e-cigarettes or vaporizers, has become a popular substitute for tobacco products in people looking to quit smoking. You may hear the use of e-cigarettes more commonly referred to as “vaping.” However, there is a growing amount of research to suggest that e-cigarettes contain many harmful substances, including chemicals that can cause cancer. In one study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was found that almost all the e-cigarettes sold within the United States during the study contained nicotine.

Vaping has become especially common among young people, as flavored e-cigarettes and strong marketing tactics have been used to make vaping more appealing to teens and young adults. This could be problematic, as one survey showed that teenaged e-cigarette users were 2 times more likely to smoke tobacco cigarettes compared to those who had never used e-cigarettes. These are worrisome trends as e-cigarettes continue to gain tremendous popularity, particularly among younger people.

It is important to know that e-cigarettes are not currently approved by regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as a method to help people stop smoking. Even more importantly, questions regarding the long-term health problems of vaping in people with cancer and survivors remain unanswered at this time. If you are using or considering using e-cigarettes during cancer or survivorship, it is important to talk with your health care team about how vaping could affect your overall health.

What are the negative health effects of vaping?

There is a common belief that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes, but it’s important to know that studies involving the long-term use of e-cigarettes have shown that they can negatively impact brain and heart health. E-cigarette vapor also contains many harmful chemicals that are released during the heating of the liquid propylene glycol or glycerin, which are commonly used to dissolve the active nicotine ingredient found in vaping products. Nicotine in e-cigarettes may also negatively impact brain development and lead to addiction in children, teens, and young adults.

As e-cigarettes are a fairly new phenomenon, our knowledge on their long-term health effects is relatively lacking at this time. Human studies with follow-up periods longer than 5 years are needed to better understand how e-cigarette use may impact the health of people with cancer and survivors. In fact, the American Society of Clinical oncology and the American Association for cancer Research have called for more research to be done on e-cigarette products, including around their potential health impacts.

Regardless, because of the toxic substances found in e-cigarettes, people with cancer and survivors should talk with their health care team about avoiding using e-cigarettes as a quitting-smoking tool or as a remedy to reduce stress or improve attention, thinking, or memory problems until more is known about the effects of e-cigarette usage.

What does the research say about vaping and cancer?

Many people with cancer may turn to using e-cigarettes because they think it could help them stop smoking. In one study published in Psychooncology, people with cancer expressed their preference for e-cigarettes over nicotine replacement therapy as a treatment for quitting smoking. However, over 70% of people with cancer who used e-cigarettes reported that they did not inform their cancer care provider that they used e-cigarettes.

Several other studies have evaluated the patterns of e-cigarette usage among cancer survivors. One study analyzed data of more than 8,000 cancer survivors from the National Health Interview Survey (2014–2018) and observed more e-cigarette usage among cancer survivors identifying as White compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Other studies have also observed that e-cigarettes are often used together with conventional cigarettes.

We recently studied the relationship between adverse health behaviors, including vaping, and cognitive problems in young adult childhood cancer survivors, which was published in JCO oncology Practice. Cognitive problems can include trouble with thinking, paying attention, and remembering things. Our study included 1,106 young adults who had survived childhood cancer who were ages 15 to 39 when they entered the study and were at least 5 years out from their cancer diagnosis. We observed that the use of e-cigarettes was 2 times higher among survivors with self-reported cognitive impairment compared to other survivors. Those cognitively impaired survivors were also found to have poorer physical and mental health. Although the exact reasons for vaping were not captured in the study, we speculated that these survivors were vaping for stress relief, smoking cessation, and potentially to seek improvement of short-term alertness and concentration.

Ultimately, it is important to always talk with your health care team before using e-cigarettes so they can help address any questions you may have around vaping.

What should people with cancer and survivors know about using vaping to help quit smoking?

For people with cancer and survivors who have quit smoking traditional cigarettes and are using e-cigarettes solely for smoking cessation, they should consider seeking the help of a pharmacist. Many community pharmacies provide smoking cessation services and can help redirect them to other evidence-based methods to stop smoking, including nicotine replacement therapies and medications such as varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban). Talk with your health care team for a referral to a pharmacist who can help with smoking cessation.

Research is also currently ongoing to evaluate new strategies for improving the effectiveness of quitting smoking approaches, including individualized health educational programs, peer navigators, and mobile health applications to help people stick with their plans to quit.

Your pharmacist can work closely with you to personalize a quitting smoking plan that is best suited for your needs and lifestyle. Even if you are thinking about quitting but you are not fully ready, your pharmacist is still a great resource to turn to as you navigate this decision.

As fall approaches, children, teens and their families prepare for the upcoming school year. Getting new school supplies is on many families’ minds and can be especially difficult for families coping with cancer.

Now in its eighth year, cancerCare for Kids’ Back-to-School Program provides backpacks full of new school supplies for students affected by cancer in pre-K through 12th grade throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. cancerCare’s social workers and facilities team worked to pack and ship age-appropriate school supplies, including books, calculators, notebooks, folders, pens, pencils and art supplies, to 223 students from 98 families.

cancerCare’s Back-to-School program allows families impacted by cancer to spend time with their loved ones and prepare for the upcoming school year without worrying about the money and time it takes to get new school supplies.

One parent shared, “I wish you could have seen my kids’ faces when they opened the boxes! They were all so excited with everything.”

“Each item is appropriate for each of our children’s age and will really go to good use,” said another parent. “You took a big load off of us not having to think of preparing the kids for the new school year!”

“The supplies in the backpack were exactly on the kids’ supply list for school,” another parent added. “Not having to go out and look for supplies also gives me extra time with my family. As you can imagine, time with a loved one diagnosed with cancer is priceless.”

cancerCare for Kids’ Back-to-School Program is open to children and teens diagnosed with cancer, who have a loved one diagnosed with cancer or who have lost a loved one to cancer and who reside in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.

Thank you to all of our supporters and dedicated staff who make our Back-to-School Program and all of our free services possible!

Learn more about cancerCare for Kids and how we help children, teens and families affected by cancer. You can also call our Hopeline at 800-813-HOPE (4673) to speak with an oncology social worker or email cckids@cancercare.org with questions.

A new editorial paper titled “Potential repurposing of DPP4 inhibitors for target therapy resistance in renal cell carcinoma” has been published in Oncotarget.

In their new editorial, researchers Kuniko Horie and Satoshi Inoue from Saitama Medical University and Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology discuss renal cell carcinoma (RCC)—a major adult kidney cancer, which is often incidentally discovered as an asymptomatic disease on imaging in the developed countries.

RCC has the most fatal disease among urological cancers, as a recent 5-year relative survival rate in the U.S. (2009–2015) is less than 80%. While RCC is known as a cancer resistant to chemo- and radiotherapies, the prognosis of RCC has been remarkably improved after the clinical application of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immunotherapy.

The rationale for the efficacy of TKIs in RCC is mainly based on the angiogenetic status, particularly in clear cell RCC (ccRCC) that is the most common type of RCC (70–75% of RCC), in which the loss of function mutation of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene activates hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways.

The first-line TKIs that predominantly target VEGF receptor (VEGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) (e.g., sunitinib and sorafenib) have been clinically used since late 2000s, and the second-line TKIs such as cabozantinib, which targets more receptor tyrosine kinases including MET and TAM kinases as well as VEGFR, have been further applied to the treatment of advanced RCC since early 2010s in which the first-line TKIs are ineffective.

“In our recent study, we established a panel of patient-derived ccRCC spheroid cultures with the enhancement of cancer stemness gene signature including DPP4. Focusing on TKI sunitinib sensitivity, we demonstrated that DPP4 inhibition increased sunitinib efficacy in DPP4-high RCC spheroids and DPP4 was upregulated in sunitinib-resistant RCC cells,” the researchers explain.

Provided by
Impact Journals LLC

There are now many more days, where I feel like giving up on fighting the cancer culture in this country. SimPal is incredibly busy and I can feel the change we are making daily. In my early days I could see some wins for people affected by cancer. But not now! Politicians, totally disinterested. NHS England fighting with it’s own people. Individuals, inside or out of the service, with next to no chance of making a difference on their own now. I’m totally bored with most large charities, bringing up the same issues, I’ve seen more than 10 years ago, and still begging for more money. Even though they are continuing on the circle of failure.

cancer casts a long, dark shadow over the UK today. As incidence rates continue to rise, our overburdened health system struggles to keep pace. Years of neglect have left cancer care fragmented, underfunded and woefully unprepared. Unless we urgently prioritize reform, this burgeoning crisis threatens to eclipse all other concerns.

Already, outcomes lag far behind other nations. The UK has the lowest cancer survival rates among comparable Western countries. And the gap is only widening, with progress stalled for a decade as European neighbours surge ahead. Despite pouring billions into cutting-edge research, we fail where it matters most – aiding those currently battling the disease.

Behind the statistics lie real people betrayed. Patients denied swift access to ground breaking innovations. Families shattered when timely treatment could have made all the difference. And an exhausted, demoralized workforce battling valiantly against the odds. Without recognition of these urgent human costs, cancer will continue its insidious spread through society.

Why has it come to this? Firstly, while research breakthroughs provide hope, many now languish unused. Rigid barriers prevent rapid translation into clinical practice. Patients most in need are last to benefit, as proven treatments gather dust awaiting formal approval. We must find faster pathways to get innovations where they matter most – into hospitals and clinics across the nation.

Secondly, early diagnosis remains a key stumbling block. GPs face ever-growing demands, leaving little time to suspect cancer amidst a 10-minute appointment. Public awareness campaigns can encourage vigilance for warning signs. But we also need systematic changes – better diagnostic equipment in local practices, prompt specialist referral processes, and strategies to identify those at highest risk. The difference between Stage one and Stage three cancer, is the difference between life and death.

Workforce shortages also hamper efforts, with chronic understaffing now the status quo. Vital posts sit vacant for months, patient loads grow untenable, and staff burnout fuels an exodus from the cancer field. Without Valuing those providing care, we cannot hope to retain them.

Finally, and most critically, years of austerity have left services emaciated. Budgets tighten, equipment ages, and rising need outpaces capacity. Patients now wait months where weeks once sufficed. The system creaks under unsustainable strain – a superficial bandage on a gaping wound.

What will continued disregard for these realities entail? Projections forecast a 63% rise in cancer cases over the next two decades. Our cancer infrastructure is already bursting at the seams. Without urgent investment in staff, equipment and facilities, this influx of new cases will trigger total collapse.

Rising demand will extend delays even further as exhausted resources are stretched beyond breaking point. Patients will have outcomes decided the day they receive their cancer diagnosis – not by tumour biology but by postcode and luck in timing.

Ultimately, the real victims are not statistics but human beings. Sons and daughters, partners and parents, valued members of every community. Behind every percentage are shattered lives and devastated families. If outcomes worsen, hundreds of thousands more will lose loved ones each year.

We stand at a crossroads today. Further neglect and underfunding set society on a path toward tragedy on an unprecedented scale. Only through collective action can we alter course – championing reform, embracing innovation, investing in clinical care, and making cancer the priority it deserves to be. The time has come to step out of the shadow.

With comprehensive modernization, improved prevention and early diagnosis, the UK can still deliver world-leading cancer care to meet this growing threat. But the hour is late, and the storm is nearing. We must come together, stand up and say enough – no more lip service, no more half measures. The time for change is now.

I haven’t come this far to turn back now! The odds for me to survive were dreadful, but here I am. I will continue to fight, for future generations who deserve better. Not being stuck on life limiting waiting lists, dying whilst waiting for care. As always, these are my opinions, based on personal experiences. Please feel free to share your own, below.

Related

Para muchas personas, las hamburguesas asadas o las verduras crujientes son los platos favoritos. Pero, ¿comer alimentos a la parrilla o asados o alimentos cocinados a altas temperaturas puede afectar al riesgo de desarrollar cáncer?

Se encuentran varios tipos de sustancias químicas en carnes a la parrilla, asadas y bien cocidas, así como en algunos alimentos a base de plantas horneados, tostados o fritos cuando se cocinan a altas temperaturas. Aquí encontrará información sobre cuáles son estas sustancias químicas, cómo pueden afectar al riesgo de desarrollar cáncer y qué puede hacer para reducir su exposición a sustancias químicas al cocinar.

¿Cuáles son las sustancias químicas que se encuentran en los alimentos a la parrilla o en los alimentos cocinados a altas temperaturas?

Dos sustancias químicas, los hidrocarburos aromáticos policíclicos (HAP) y las aminas heterocíclicas (AHC), se desarrollan de forma natural al cocinar carne. Cuando cocina carne, la grasa y el jugo gotean en la bandeja de goteo de la parrilla, lo que provoca llamas y humo que contienen HAP. Esto, a su vez, recubre la carne con HAP. Los HAP también se encuentran en los alimentos ahumados, el humo del tabaco y el escape del auto. Mientras tanto, las AHC se producen de forma natural cuando se calienta carne, como carne de res, pollo, cerdo o pescado, a altas temperaturas.

Otra sustancia química llamada acrilamida se desarrolla de forma natural al cocinar, tostar o freír papas u otros alimentos a base de plantas a altas temperaturas. La acrilamida es una sustancia química que se forma cuando los azúcares reaccionan con aminoácidos en los alimentos que se hornean, fritan o tuestan. Puede encontrar acrilamida en papas fritas u horneadas, galletas y otros productos horneados, y café. El agua potable y el humo del tabaco también contienen acrilamida, y las personas que fuman tienen niveles más altos de biomarcadores de acrilamida en la sangre que los no fumadores, según un estudio de 2010 sobre Perspectivas de salud medioambiental (en inglés).

Si desea obtener más información sobre qué alimentos contienen acrilamida, la Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos) de los EE. UU. publica en línea el contenido de acrilamida en miles de alimentos (en inglés).

¿Pueden los HAP y las ACH causar cáncer?

En estudios con animales, los roedores que siguieron una dieta con dosis elevadas de HAP y AHC desarrollaron varios tipos diferentes de cáncer. Por ejemplo, en un estudio publicado en la revista Carcinogenesis (en inglés), los roedores alimentados con AHC en su dieta tenían más probabilidades de desarrollar cáncer de mama y cáncer de colon. Sin embargo, los estudios en seres humanos no han demostrado que los HAP o las AHC causen cáncer, y esta sigue siendo un área de investigación en curso.

El estudio de estas sustancias químicas en humanos es especialmente difícil porque es difícil identificar la cantidad exacta de HAP o AHC que una persona consume basándose en cuestionarios sobre su ingesta diaria de alimentos. Además, los niveles de HAP y de AHC pueden variar según el tipo de carne, la duración de la cocción y la temperatura de cocción. Por último, la forma en que su cuerpo metaboliza estas sustancias químicas o su exposición a estas sustancias químicas en su entorno pueden diferir de la de otra persona. Para algunas personas, esto podría afectar probablemente a su riesgo de desarrollar cáncer.

“No hay una recomendación clara sobre lo que es una cantidad segura (para consumir),” dice Julie Lanford, MPH, RD, CSO, LDN, una dietista registrada y la autora y creadora de CancerDietitian.com. Pero Lanford no recomienda evitar por completo las carnes a la parrilla. En su lugar, aconseja a las personas que cocinan a la parrilla con más frecuencia, como una o dos veces a la semana, que seleccionen diversos alimentos, como verduras, pescado cocido en papel de aluminio o carnes bajas en grasa, para reducir su exposición a HAP y AHC.

Otras formas de reducir posiblemente la exposición a estas sustancias químicas incluyen:

• Intentar evitar las llamaradas que pueden carbonizar la carne
• Precocer parcialmente las carnes para reducir el tiempo en la parrilla
• Marinar la carne previamente para proporcionar una capa protectora contra estas sustancias químicas

cancer.net/sites/cancer.net/files/julie-lanford-circle.png” alt=”” width=”100″ height=”100″/>

“Coma muchas frutas, verduras, cereales integrales, fríjoles, frutos secos y semillas. Si puede equilibrar los alimentos que podrían tener un mayor riesgo de carcinógenos con grandes cantidades de alimentos buenos, saludables y nutritivos, obtendrá el equilibrio adecuado”.–Julie Lanford, MPH, RD, CSO, LDN, una nutricionista registrada y la autora y creadora de CancerDietitian.com

¿Puede la acrilamida causar cáncer?

La acrilamida se identificó por primera vez en alimentos en 2002 (en inglés) y, aunque probablemente no sea una sustancia química nueva, desde entonces han ido aumentando los estudios de sus efectos sobre la salud.

En estudios con animales, se ha descubierto que los niveles altos de acrilamida causan varios tipos de cáncer, según la FDA (en inglés). Sin embargo, los estudios en personas no son concluyentes. Esto podría deberse a la dificultad para calcular el nivel de ingesta de acrilamida en la dieta de una persona. Además, los niveles de acrilamida en los alimentos pueden variar en función de la temperatura de cocción, la duración de la cocción, el almacenamiento de los alimentos y otros factores.

El panel de la Autoridad Europea de Seguridad Alimentaria (en inglés) y la Organización Conjunta de Agricultura y Alimentos de las Naciones Unidas/el Comité Experto de la Organización Mundial de la Salud sobre Aditivos Alimentarios (en inglés) categorizan la acrilamida como una inquietud y recomiendan seguir estudiando el posible riesgo de cáncer en las personas. Mientras tanto, la Agencia Internacional para la Investigación del Cáncer (en inglés) considera que la acrilamida es un probable carcinógeno humano, y el Programa Nacional de Toxicología de los EE. UU. (en inglés) clasifica la acrilamida como “previsto razonablemente como carcinógeno humano”.

La FDA no publica qué niveles de acrilamida son aceptables en una dieta y no aconseja dejar de comer alimentos con acrilamida. En su lugar, se recomienda seguir una dieta equilibrada y saludable que contenga una variedad de verduras, frutas, cereales, productos lácteos sin grasa o bajos en grasa y proteínas.

Sin embargo, si desea reducir la acrilamida en su dieta, la FDA le ofrece estos consejos:

• Tueste el pan hasta que esté de un marrón dorado en lugar de uno oscuro.
• Siga las instrucciones de la etiqueta de los alimentos para freír o cocinar alimentos congelados, como las papas fritas, y evite sobrecocinarlos.
• Almacene las papas en una zona fresca y seca, pero no en el refrigerador; esto puede aumentar la acrilamida durante la cocción.

La información de esta publicación se basa en la investigación actual y en las opiniones de expertos disponibles hoy en día. Estos hallazgos pueden cambiar a medida que surjan más investigaciones sobre este tema.

Each year, cancerCare hosts “Do Something for cancerCare,” an annual DIY event where people create their own fundraising activities to raise money and give back to the organization which impacted their cancer journey, or helped a loved one during their experience.

As we launch this year’s Do Something campaign, we wanted to share a story about a group of young men who are doing something in memory of their friend:

In Fairfield, Connecticut, a group of childhood friends shared an unbreakable bond with Ryan Van Zandt, who was “anything but boring and knew how to entertain those around him,” shared Ryan’s friend, Conor. From childhood to his early twenties, His contagious smile, humor and kindness endeared him to everyone who met him.

It was Ryan’s love of sports and his second diagnosis of a rare form of cancer that led his friends to start “Reps 4 Ryan” in 2015. Combining golf and fitness, the group organized a local golf tournament at the Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course, along with a viral social media challenge.

“Each and every day had more and more people posting pictures and videos of them throwing reps up in the gym in their Reps 4 Ryan gear,” said Conor. This online presence became so large that it eventually caught the attention of a few Miami Dolphins football players, Ryan’s favorite NFL football team.

At only 25 years old, “to see Ryan receive his second diagnosis was not just devastating, but aggravating at the same time. That’s two times too many and two times more than most people have to go through such an experience.”

“All of those horrible feelings were quickly channeled into motivation to act for Ryan and his tremendous family.” Conor added that “as sad of a time as it was for us with Ryan’s health, it was an incredibly special thing to see so many people band together. Short on energy and strength due to his ailing health at the time, Ryan rallied and joined everyone at the course for that first tournament in 2015.”

When Ryan passed away in 2016, his friends channeled their feelings of grief and loss into Reps 4 Ryan, now an annual tradition that continues to make an impact. Drawing over 100+ participants each fall, the funds raised at the tournament go towards cancerCare‘s support services and cancer research. Reps 4 Ryan is no longer just an event – it’s a reunion, a celebration and a way to remember the warmth of their family member and friend. It brings Ryan’s community back each year, honoring his memory and the enduring bonds they share.

Ryan’s mother, Lorette, added that he “inspired more than just the Reps 4 Ryan team.” Two books were actually written about him. “Everyone has grieved in different ways,” she said. “But largely, those around him have found the outlets of continuing to help others and connect more with their community as the most positive and helpful way to confront our devastating loss.”

In honoring Ryan’s spirit, Reps 4 Ryan exemplifies the impact a close-knit community can wield as a force for good. “There’s a tremendous buzz around this tournament for so many people and that buzz is something each of us are proud to be a part of and we’re confident that Ryan would love knowing how much he is still loved and missed by all.”

cancer” title=”Credit: CC0 Public Domain” width=”800″ height=”530″/>

Florida dermatologists say the skin cancer that killed Jimmy Buffett is becoming more common in the Sunshine State and urge residents to look out for a few unique features.

While rare, the aggressive skin cancer pops up most often in skin areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, scalp or neck. People who are fair-skinned, older than 50, and exposed regularly to the sun are at higher risk of developing Merkel cell carcinoma. The key to survival is finding out early, and acting quickly.

People diagnosed and treated for this form of skin cancer while it is still localized have a five-year survival rate of 75%, but once it spreads to a distant organ, the survival rate plunges to only 24%.

What to look for

In Delray Beach, dermatologist Steven Hacker says he has many patients he is treating or following that have Merkel cell carcinoma.

“It looks like a very non-specific bump that is flesh-colored or reddish blue and can be the size of an eraser tip on a pencil,” he said. “It needs to be biopsied to make a diagnosis. The sooner it’s caught, the better your chances are.”

If something looks like a pimple or bug bite and doesn’t go away, get checked by a dermatologist, he said. It some cases, the original bump spawns more nearby.

Merkel cell carcinoma can be aggressive, especially when it spreads to distant parts of the body. It is the second most common cause of skin cancer-related death, after melanoma.

“While it’s rare in the U.S., in Florida we actually see a lot of it,” said Dr. Michael Kasper, director of radiation oncology with Lynn cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health, at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. “We see it a couple of times a month.”

And, while it is more common in men, Kasper says they see women with it too. “With the population living in Florida, one of biggest things that sets us apart is the suppressed immune system that happens as we age.”

Kasper said with Merkel, the nodule below the skin’s surface tends to be hard or firm, although not at all painful. “It can grow fairly quickly. Sometimes, doctors who don’t know what it is will try to drain it and nothing will come out,” he said. “It should not be drained. If you know what you are looking at, you know not to drain it. If you find it early and it is localized, most of the time it can be cured.”

A virus called Merkel cell polyomavirus may play a role in causing most cases of the cancer, Kasper said. Just how this virus causes Merkel cell carcinoma is still unknown.

When a biopsy shows Merkel cell carcinoma, doctors will remove the nodule, but also do radiation to completely get rid of cancerous tissue and reduce the chance of recurrence. There also will be a biopsy of the nearby lymph node and a full body PET scan to see if the cancer has spread to organs. Oncologists recommend immunotherapy if the Merkel cell carcinoma has spread or is inoperable. In 2019, the federal government approved an new immunotherapy to treat people with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma.

Other skin cancers

Although skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis is the U.S., most Americans fail to get checked regularly, according to an online survey in January of more than 2,000 people by Prevent cancer Foundation. The survey found 70% of Americans 21 and older have not had a skin check in the past year.

The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Anyone, regardless of skin color, can get these, although those with freckles, fair skin and light hair are most at risk.

Basal cell carcinomas typically grow slowly and don’t spread to other areas of the body. But if this cancer isn’t treated, the cells can expand deeper and penetrate into nerves and bones. Squamous cell cancer usually is not life-threatening, but if not treated, can grow large or spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma is the most serious type of the more common skin cancers because it is most likely to grow and spread.

Merkel cell carcinoma is is 40 times rarer than melanoma. Buffett, the “Margaritaville” singer and legendary Florida beach fan, had been battling it for four years.

About a dozen other rare types of skin cancer also exist.

Legendary Jamaican singer, musician and songwriter Bob Marley died of a rare skin cancer when he was only 36 years old. He had acral lentiginous melanoma that appeared as a dark spot under his toenail. ALM typically develops under nails, on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands and is the most common form of melanoma found in people of color.

“If you have a spot that is evolving or changing rapidly over weeks or months have it checked out,” said Dr. Charles Dunn, a dermatology resident with ADCS Orlando Dermatology “You can get skin cancer in areas that are not even exposed to sun.”

Dunn said with all skin cancers, but particularly with Merkel, “time is of the essence.” Early detection, he said, results in better survival statistics.

Be vigilant, get checked

Dr. Rajiv Nathoo, a dermatologist and complex clinic director for Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Clinics in Orlando, said there is a lot of misdiagnosis with skin cancer and advises Floridians to get their regular skin check with board-certified dermatologists. “The general public should be aware of red flags and seek out care, but skin cancer is complex and it’s why we exist as field.” Nathoo said he has a patient in hospice with Merkel who was misdiagnosed, and the skin cancer has now spread. “It’s a big deal because of the mortality statistics. A third of the time with Merkel it has metastasized by the time it’s diagnosed.”

Although genetics and an individual’s immune system play a role, dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen, avoiding sunburns, and staying indoors during the hottest times of the day. In addition, Nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, has been shown to reduce the number of skin cancers when taken orally, but the benefits are lost once you stop taking it, according to a report in Harvard Health Publishing.

“Talk with your dermatologist to see if you are a candidate for Nicotinamide,” Hacker said.

While dermatologists recommend annual skin checks, those over 65 might consider twice a year.

“It’s really crucial to now what’s normal for you and your skin,” said Heather Macky, senior director of cancer prevention and early detection at the Prevent cancer Foundation. “If you notice a mole, freckle or bump that’s changing in size, shape or color, bring it to the attention of your provider, and don’t wait.”

©2023 South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

So the truth is beginning to finally come out. In recent years we have been failing to meet most of the government targets set to deal effectively with cancer. Slipping down the lists of worst outcomes in similar countries. What is the answer to this? Let’s change the targets!! OMG, we have been paying the best brains in the country to help us, against it’s ever increasing challenges with this awful disease. So much time and money has gone into it, and things are getting rapidly worse.

But we are reassured, that our new targeting framework, has been discussed thoroughly with NHS England, Macmillan cancer, cancer Research, and other charities. But correct me if I’m wrong, aren’t these the very people that have presided over the failures that are occurring now? The same old faces, being well paid and honoured, whilst presiding over basic failure. How can we expect anything to improve, whilst still relying on Government lapdogs, awaiting more scraps from the healthcare purse?

cancer care in the UK is in crisis. Years of austerity and chronic underfunding of the NHS, have left services stretched perilously thin. Waiting times for diagnosis and treatment, continue to lengthen, while staff shortages and inadequate resources hamper efforts to deliver timely, high-quality care. Now, proposals to downgrade cancer services, threaten to exacerbate an already dire situation.

If implemented, these measures will almost certainly lead to preventable suffering, and unnecessary loss of life. The plans currently under consideration, would see specialist cancer surgery centralized, in fewer hospitals, with several units facing closure. While proponents argue this will improve outcomes in the remaining centres of excellence, experts warn it will make services less accessible for many patients. Long journeys for surgery and follow-up treatments, place a huge burden on cancer sufferers, many of whom are too unwell to travel far.

This, risks delays in diagnosis, and life-saving operations. Likewise, plans to move some cancer care into community settings sound good on paper. However, they require investment in skilled staff, equipment and facilities – funding that has not been forthcoming. Without adequate resources, community providers cannot hope to deliver the meticulous, expert care that cancer patients rely on. Watering down services, and spreading them thinner, risks seriously impacting quality of care. Meanwhile, continual erosion of cancer workforce levels, poses a grave threat.

cancer-care-crisis-deepens/design-9/” data-orig-file=”https://mlcuepl9ewv1.i.optimole.com/w:auto/h:auto/q:mauto/f:avif/https://www.chris-cancercommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/design-9.png” data-orig-size=”1140,597″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}” data-image-title=”design-9″ data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”” data-medium-file=”https://mlcuepl9ewv1.i.optimole.com/w:300/h:157/q:mauto/f:avif/https://www.chris-cancercommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/design-9.png” data-large-file=”https://mlcuepl9ewv1.i.optimole.com/w:1024/h:536/q:mauto/f:avif/https://www.chris-cancercommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/design-9.png” decoding=”async” src=”https://mlcuepl9ewv1.i.optimole.com/w:1024/h:536/q:mauto/f:avif/https://www.chris-cancercommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/design-9.png” alt=”” class=”wp-image-11811 lazyload jetpack-lazy-image” style=”width:496px;height:239px” width=”496″ height=”239″ data-lazy-src=”https://image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7?is-pending-load=1″ old-srcset=”data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7″/>

Staff shortages across nursing, specialty cancer doctors, and allied health professionals, are now at crisis point. This brutal lack of human resource, directly translates to delays, late diagnoses and rushed consultations, where doctors do not have the time to discuss options properly, or provide psychological support. Burnout and poor morale are fuelling an exodus of staff, disillusioned with the unbearable stresses of working in crumbling cancer services. cancer outcomes lag behind other comparable countries, with survival rates worsening over the past decade. The UK was ranked a dismal 16th out of 20 European countries for one-year survival in the latest CONCORD-3 study.

While deprivation and risk factors play a role, experts cite under-resourcing of services, as the primary culprit. With cancer incidence in the UK expected to surge by over 60% in the next 20 years, failing to address resourcing shortfalls, will prove disastrous. Rising cancer waiting times are perhaps the clearest indication services are failing. Over the past five years, wait times for lifesaving cancer surgery have ballooned. 1 in 10 patients now wait over a month to begin treatment, after a decision to operate. Excessive delays allow tumours to grow, and cancer to spread. This significantly worsens prognosis, and survival outcomes.

cancer-care-crisis-deepens/design-8/” data-orig-file=”https://mlcuepl9ewv1.i.optimole.com/w:auto/h:auto/q:mauto/f:avif/https://www.chris-cancercommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/design-8.png” data-orig-size=”1140,597″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}” data-image-title=”” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”” data-medium-file=”https://mlcuepl9ewv1.i.optimole.com/w:300/h:157/q:mauto/f:avif/https://www.chris-cancercommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/design-8.png” data-large-file=”https://mlcuepl9ewv1.i.optimole.com/w:1024/h:536/q:mauto/f:avif/https://www.chris-cancercommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/design-8.png” decoding=”async” src=”https://mlcuepl9ewv1.i.optimole.com/w:1024/h:536/q:mauto/f:avif/https://www.chris-cancercommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/design-8.png” alt=”Male patient undergoing MRI scan in medical examination room. Close up of face.” class=”wp-image-11810 lazyload jetpack-lazy-image” style=”width:476px;height:248px” width=”476″ height=”248″ data-lazy-src=”https://image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7?is-pending-load=1″ old-srcset=”data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7″/>

Failing to tackle delays may reverse hard-won gains in cancer survival. Likewise, MRI and CT scan shortages leave patients in limbo for far too long. Growing backlogs for staging scans, can critically impact the window for beginning treatment. cancer organizations warn shortages risk “creating a perfect storm”, jeopardizing patient outcomes. Sadly, the human cost of these pressures is immeasurable. Behind the statistics, are real people facing heart-breaking diagnoses, without access to expert help and support. Patients denied prompt treatment, or forced to travel miles from home, often experience much poorer quality of life in their final weeks and months. And many lose their lives unnecessarily.

A lowest-bidder approach to cancer care is neither ethically acceptable nor fiscally responsible in the long run. The cancer care crisis unfolding in the UK warrants urgent action. Government must inject targeted funding to improve workforce levels, equipment and capacity. While tough economic conditions engender, difficult spending decisions, short-changing cancer patients is an intolerable false economy. It makes little financial sense to risk the health, productivity and lives of millions.

Patients battling cancer, desperately need the system on their side. They deserve convenient access to expert care, innovative treatments, psychological support and timely operations. Ensuring excellent cancer services requires investment today to save lives tomorrow. The true measure of a society is how it cares for its most vulnerable. With bold, comprehensive reform, we can still deliver the world-class cancer care patients across the UK deserve. The future of the nation’s health depends on it.

You can find a good summary of this situation from cancer Research. Our country has worked so hard to improve all areas of cancer, since my own diagnosis. But in my opinion, what we are witnessing today, will take us generations to recover from. If we ever can. Leaving cancer in this current impasse is totally unsustainable across the globe.

As always these are my personal opinions based on my experiences. If you would like to share your own please comment below.

Related

This post is reviewed and updated each year in time for the U.S. flu season. It was first published October 3, 2019.

Every year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that nearly everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine. If you are a person with cancer, a survivor, or a caregiver, the flu could be even more dangerous for you or your loved ones. If you have any questions, talk with your doctor about the vaccine. Make sure you get your flu shot this fall!

Why should I get the flu shot?

cancer treatment can weaken the immune system and put people with cancer at an increased risk for problems from the flu. These problems can include dehydration, sinus and ear infections, and bronchitis, which is inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the lungs. More serious problems include pneumonia, sepsis (a dangerous bodily reaction to infection), and inflammation of the heart, brain, or muscle tissues. 

When should I get my flu shot?

In general, the best time to get the flu shot is in September or October. The CDC specifically recommends that adults aged 65 and older avoid early vaccination in July or August if possible, because they may be less protected later in the season. But it’s important to talk with your doctor, as there are specific situations where it’s best to get the flu shot early. (Learn more about these exceptions on the CDC website.)

It is never too late to get vaccinated during flu season. Late vaccination can still help, and your doctor should have access to the flu vaccine throughout the winter.

Timing is particularly important for people getting or recovering from cancer treatment. Talk with your doctor about the best time for you to receive the flu shot, especially if you are currently receiving immunotherapy, radiation therapy, or Chemotherapy or if you have recently had a transplant. They will help you determine the best plan for when to get your flu shot, so you have the best protection without affecting your cancer treatment plan.

Is there more than 1 type of flu shot?

Yes, and it’s important to ask which is best for you. For the 2023–2024 flu season, there are 6 flu vaccine options. All of the flu vaccine options described below are quadrivalent vaccines, which means they protect against the 4 different flu viruses that are expected to be most common during this flu season. If you are 65 years or older or if you have an egg allergy, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the different options available to you. People with an egg allergy may receive any of the vaccines described below, so long as the vaccine is otherwise appropriate based on their age and overall health. The links below will take you to the CDC’s website for more information on each type of vaccine.

• Standard-Dose Flu Vaccine: This year’s standard-dose flu vaccine is available for those aged 6 months to 64 years. It is not generally recommended for adults 65 and older. Different types of standard-dose flu vaccines are approved for different age groups, so talk with your doctor about which specific type of flu vaccine is recommended for you or different members of your family.

• High-Dose Flu Vaccine: Recommended for adults 65 years and older, this vaccine contains 4 times the antigens of the standard-dose vaccine. Antigens are what help your body protect itself against the flu.

• Flu Vaccine with Adjuvant: This is another flu vaccine option for adults who are 65 years and older. An adjuvant is the type of ingredient added to the vaccine in order to help the body have a stronger immune response.

• Cell-Based Flu Vaccines: This flu vaccine option is meant for people 6 months and older. Instead of growing the flu viruses in eggs, this vaccine uses flu viruses that are grown in cultured cells.   

• Recombinant Flu Vaccine: The recombinant flu vaccine is another option for adults 65 years and older. Eggs are not used in the production of this vaccine. It is only recommended for people who are older than 18.

• Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine: Also called live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), the nasal spray vaccine is an option for some people between the ages of 2 and 49. Do not get the nasal spray flu vaccine if you are pregnant, are 50 or older, have a weakened immune system, or are a caregiver for those who have a greatly weakened immune system. There are additional people who should not get the nasal spray flu vaccine. People with cancer and their caregivers should talk with the doctor before getting the nasal spray flu vaccine.

What else can I do to protect myself against the flu?

Getting your flu vaccine is just the first step in preventing the spread of the flu. Here are some other ways you can help stop the spread of illnesses: 

• Encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to get the flu shot. This provides a ring of protection around you, too.

• Wash your hands often, and avoid touching your face.

• Wear a mask as directed by public health officials and your doctor’s recommendations.

• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

• Stay home if you are feeling sick, and let your doctor know.

• Wipe down surfaces regularly with a disinfectant cleaner at work, home, and school, especially areas that you touch often, such as counters, phones, and handles on doors, faucets, and appliances.