Stereotactic radiation is a proven alternative to surgery or anti-epileptic drugs for treating trigeminal neuralgia in MS patients. The study shows that radiosurgery using Gamma Knife is highly effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life for those affected.
Studies show that adding radiation to hormone therapy for prostate cancer increases survival chances, while aspirin use reduces risk of cancer death. Prostate cancer screening improves quality of life by catching the disease earlier, and radiation before surgery keeps colorectal cancer from returning.
Elizabeth A. Brunton, a registered nurse at Scripps Clinic, has been recognized with the 2010 ASTRO Nurse Excellence Award for her exceptional patient care and dedication to education. She developed patient education materials and created an orientation program to help patients understand radiation therapy.
ASTRO recognizes Brian Hill as a cancer survivor who has given back to the community through his nonprofit, The Oral Cancer Foundation. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic tonsil cancer in 1997 but went on to donate $1,000 prize money to benefit the foundation.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) partners with Mama's Kitchen to promote cancer survivorship and raise awareness on nutritional support for cancer patients. The partnership aims to provide essential nutrients to those affected by cancer, highlighting the importance of community care and volunteerism.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has partnered with the Emilio Nares Foundation to promote cancer survivorship. The foundation offers life-enhancing services, emotional, and spiritual support to children and their families battling cancer.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) honored outstanding researchers in radiation oncology, recognizing excellence in clinical and basic science research. The awards include Resident Clinical/Basic Science Research Awards, Resident Poster Viewing Awards, and Annual Meeting Scientific Abstract Awards.
N. Reed Dunnick is being recognized for his dedication to bridging the gap between diagnostic radiology and radiation oncology. As an accomplished leader in the field of radiology, Dr. Dunnick has been involved with numerous professional societies throughout his career.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has selected five physicians as recipients of two grants, the Junior Faculty Career Research Training Award and the Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Research Seed Grant Award. The awards support junior physician faculty and residents/fellows in radiation oncology research.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has awarded travel grants to 17 radiation oncology professionals to attend Advocacy Day. The grants aim to support the financial constraints faced by residents and nurses in advocating for their patients' interests.
Proton beam radiation therapy has been shown to provide encouraging results for patients with locally advanced sinonasal malignancies, with high local control rates at five and eight years after treatment. The study found no significant difference in local control rates based on histological subtype, T stage, or prior surgery.
A recent study found that larynx preservation treatments using chemotherapy followed by radiation have a low-risk of severe voice disability, with only 15% of patients experiencing severe vocal impairment. The treatment also resulted in minimal eating or swallowing problems, with 57% of patients unaffected.
A study found that pretreatment SUVmax is a strong predictor of disease-specific survival, overall survival, and disease-free survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Higher SUV-LN was associated with distant metastasis, suggesting more aggressive treatment approaches may be needed.
A multi-institutional randomized phase III trial analyzed 721 patients with stage III-IV carcinoma of the oral cavity oropharynx hypopharynx or larynx. The study found accelerated radiation therapy reduced chemotherapy toxicity, similar disease-free and local-regional failure rates compared to standard radiation.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology's IHE-RO program has been awarded a grant to develop interoperability standards and build test tools software. The goal is to create universal health records for cancer patients and improve communication between radiation oncology equipment.
A shortened, more intensive course of radiation therapy has been shown to be as effective as traditional treatments for early-stage breast cancers, with no significant side effects. This accelerated hypofractionated whole breast irradiation option is more time-efficient and cost-effective.
A study found that cancer patients value honesty from their oncologists about treatment outcomes, with prostate cancer patients showing a stronger preference for candor. The study also reveals that patients prefer casual clothing and informal communication styles, such as being called by their first names.
A study presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) found that hypofractionated radiation treatment is more effective in stopping cancer from growing in high-risk prostate cancer patients compared to standard radiation therapy. The new treatment also had no increased risk of negative side effects, making it a valua...
A new study found that a shorter, five-week course of hypofractionated radiation is as effective as standard radiation therapy in reducing prostate cancer recurrence. The treatment delivered higher doses of radiation in fewer sessions, resulting in no significant difference in cancer recurrence or side effects between the two groups.
A randomized study found that preventative brain radiation for nonsmall cell lung cancer patients decreased the risk of brain metastases by over 50%, but increased short and long-term memory loss. The study also showed no significant difference in overall survival between treated and untreated patients.
A randomized 10-year study found no significant differences in survival rates between women who received internal mammary chain radiation treatment and those who didn't. The study also showed that radiation treatments, even without additional IMC-RT, are still necessary for these patients.
The study found that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) stopped the growth of lung cancer at its original site for nearly 98% of patients with early non-small cell lung cancer. Researchers also discovered that less than 20% of frail patients experienced a serious decline in health status after treatment.
A phase III study found that short-term hormone therapy added to radiation treatment significantly increases survival in medium-risk prostate cancer patients by 51% compared to those receiving radiation alone. In contrast, low-risk patients showed no significant benefit from this combination.
A new study finds that obesity and diabetes increase the risk of chest pain and skin reactions after stereotactic body radiation therapy. Patients who receive a high dose of radiation to cancer close to the chest wall are more likely to experience these side effects, highlighting the need for further research into reducing radiation-re...
A recent study found that radiation therapy significantly improves regional recurrence control in melanoma patients who underwent lymphadenectomy. The treatment reduced the risk of cancer returning to the lymph nodes by 12 percentage points compared to observation.
Stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective and safe method for eliminating tremors caused by Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. Long-term results show that SRS favorsably compares to deep brain stimulation and radiofrequency treatments in terms of tremor relief and complications.
Researchers found proton therapy to have excellent early tolerance with minimal urinary and rectal toxicity. The study showed a low rate of Grade 3 genitourinary and gastrointestinal side effects, with the most common being minor rectal bleeding.
Researchers found that nearly 98% of patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer who are unable to undergo surgery experienced no growth of the disease after three years. Additionally, over half of these patients lived for three years after diagnosis, while fewer than 20% experienced a serious decline in health status.
A study found that adding proton therapy 'boost' to X-ray radiation therapy significantly reduces prostate cancer recurrences in low- and intermediate-risk patients. The high-dose treatment also proves safe with minimal side effects, benefiting these patients with conventional doses of radiation.
Research presented at the ASTRO Annual Meeting has shown that short-term hormone therapy added to radiation increases survival for medium-risk prostate cancer patients, while a shorter radiation course is effective in reducing recurrence rates. Additionally, proton therapy reduces recurrences and is well-tolerated in prostate cancer pa...
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is partnering with Gilda's Club Chicago to promote cancer survivorship. The two organizations will participate in the Survivor Circle exhibit at ASTRO's 51st Annual Meeting, highlighting programs that help patients and families cope with cancer.
Halos of Hope, a non-profit organization established in 2007, will partner with ASTRO to provide comfort and dignity to chemo patients. The partnership aims to educate members about the organization's mission and programs focused on supporting cancer survivors.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology has named its 12th class of ASTRO Fellows, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of radiation oncology through research, patient care, education, or leadership. The fellows will be recognized at the 51st Annual Meeting in November.
A study found that patients with locally advanced lung cancer who received proton therapy and chemotherapy had fewer instances of bone marrow toxicity compared to those receiving IMRT and chemotherapy. This suggests that proton therapy may be a more effective option for treating this serious side effect, enabling doctors to give higher...
A study found that African-American patients with non-small cell lung cancer have a higher copy number of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, predicting better long-term outcomes when taking erlotinib and gefitinib. Few EGFR mutations were observed, highlighting the need for more research in this patient population.
A phase III clinical trial found that adding bevacizumab to erlotinib therapy improves progression-free survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients, but not overall survival. The combination also shows a response rate and tumor shrinkage.
A study found that pemetrexed-based treatment is more effective in patients with non-squamous histology than those with squamous histology, indicating improved survival benefits for some lung cancer patients.
A recent study published by the American Society for Radiation Oncology found that males diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer have a higher mortality rate than females. The research also revealed that gender is a significant prognostic factor in lung cancer patients' overall survival rates.
A multi-center phase II clinical trial found improved survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with chemotherapy and targeted therapies bevacizumab and cetuximab. The combination showed no safety concerns, indicating a potential future treatment option for lung cancer.
A large cohort study found that hormone therapy before radiation seed implants for prostate cancer increases the risk of death by 20% in men over 70 years old with early-stage cancer. This treatment approach may have negative effects on survival, particularly for older patients.
Long-term cancer survivors are more likely to experience severe psychological distress than adults never diagnosed with cancer. Younger survivors aged less than 65 years old were particularly at risk, the study found. The research aims to raise awareness of psychosocial needs among long-term survivors and encourage routine screening.
A new web site, CaP Calculator, provides cancer specialists with access to the latest research and helps them individualize patient treatment options. The tool allows doctors to evaluate the risk of disease spreading and the effectiveness of surgery and radiation treatment.
A randomized clinical trial shows acupuncture reduces hot flashes and vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer patients, providing additional benefits like increased energy and well-being. The treatment has no side effects compared to commonly used drugs.
Patients who underwent both stereotactic radiosurgery and whole brain radiation experienced a 49% decline in learning and memory functioning, compared to 23% for those who received radiosurgery alone. Neurocognitive function was measured by recall of a list of 12 words after three attempts.
A short one-week course of radiation before surgery significantly reduces rectal cancer recurrence risk by 76% compared to post-operative treatment. However, this approach also causes impairment in sexual and bowel functions, affecting the quality of life for patients.
A randomized study found that adding radiation therapy to hormone treatment reduces the risk of dying from prostate cancer by 50% compared to hormone therapy alone. The quality of life at four years after treatment was similar between the two groups, with decreased social function in patients who received combined treatment.
A randomized study found that accelerated hypofractionated whole breast irradiation is as effective as standard five-week treatment in reducing local recurrence and side effects. The new therapy reduces the radiation time to three weeks, resulting in a cost savings of two-thirds compared to traditional treatment.
A new type of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) called balloon brachytherapy is as effective in keeping breast cancer from coming back as standard external beam radiation. This shorter treatment option makes radiation therapy more convenient for patients, potentially increasing the rate of breast conservation.
A study presented at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology's 50th Annual Meeting found that proton therapy decreases the risk of patients developing a secondary cancer. Proton therapy is a more targeted form of external beam radiation, which delivers less radiation to bordering normal structures.
A quality assurance program improves the standard of care in cancer patients by ensuring valid and statistically significant data, enabling better treatment protocols. This program strengthens clinical trials conducted by cooperative groups and supported by the National Cancer Institute.