Dear Radiation Oncology Insider,
The theme of the just-concluded American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting was "patient-focused, high-quality, multidisciplinary care." From the perspective of the working press, the sessions represented an enticing menu of proof-of-concept studies intermingled with an impressive dose of safety. "Nothing earth-shattering, but I learned a lot of things that will impact my practice," I overhead one radiation oncologist say to another -- and that seemed to summarize this conference.
One noteworthy presentation was of a Dutch study: The researchers found that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) produced the same outcomes as a lobectomy for a group of older patients who were healthy enough to undergo either procedure. Imagine having a choice! Learn more about the results in this newsletter's Insider Exclusive, which you have access to several days in advance as an Insider subscriber.
There's been a lot of positive and negative news about the use of SBRT to treat NSCLC. On the positive side, a report from Japan reinforces the Dutch study's findings. And on the negative side, there's news that high-dose SBRT isn't effective, and obese and diabetic patients are more likely to experience chest wall pain. Click here and here to read more.
In other NCSLC results from Japan, MRI scans can be useful in predicting the prognosis of patients with advanced NSCLC after chemotherapy, according to a new study. Don't miss this article by features editor Wayne Forrest.
More ASTRO meeting coverage is forthcoming, but we think you'll also want to check out these other stories in your Radiation Oncology Digital Community:
- Learn what treatment can produce less rectal toxicity for prostate cancer patients.
- Understand why ASTRO is now placing so much emphasis on patient safety.
- Read about whether it's time to update ASTRO's accelerated partial-breast irradiation guidelines.
And because October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, we're mentioning this website sponsoring the Pink Glove Dance Competition. Is your organization participating? Either way, take a moment to enjoy -- and to vote.
