All articles tagged with #survival rate
An investigational drug called daraxonrasib given to a pancreatic cancer patient at Massachusetts General Hospital is described as a potential breakthrough, with early results indicating that survival could be doubled. The report frames this as a historic advance after decades of research, though access to full details currently requires login or subscription to the Globe.
The American Cancer Society reports that for patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021, 70% survived at least five years, a dramatic rise from 49% in the 1970s, thanks to better treatments, early detection, and reduced smoking. Gains extend to previously deadly cancers (myeloma, liver, lung) and to advanced-stage disease, with an estimated 4.8 million cancer deaths prevented from 1991-2023. Yet rising incidence in several cancers and persistent disparities—Native Americans showing higher mortality—underscore ongoing inequities. With more than 2 million new cases expected in 2026, and policy funding cuts risking research progress, sustained investment remains crucial.
A landmark study published in NEJM shows that pairing Leuprolide and Enzalutamide significantly increases survival rates for men with high-risk, recurring prostate cancer, emphasizing early detection, proactive treatment, and lifestyle management to improve quality of life.
A study by the University of Texas MD Anderson and the University of Florida found that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines not only protect against the virus but also nearly double the median survival time of cancer patients by boosting the immune system.
Eli Lilly announced that its breast cancer drug Verzenio, when combined with endocrine therapy, reduced the risk of death by nearly 16% over two years in a study, marking a significant advancement in adjuvant breast cancer treatment and potentially setting a new standard of care.
Doctors warn that testicular cancer is rising among men aged 20-40, with low awareness and screening rates, despite high treatability when caught early. The disease affects about 1 in 270 young men annually, and early detection through self-exams is crucial for a high survival rate of 95%. Notable cases include athletes Lance Armstrong and Nathan Adrian, highlighting the importance of awareness and timely diagnosis.
A late-stage trial found that a Pfizer combination therapy, including chemotherapy, cetuximab, and Braftovi, doubled survival time for patients with aggressive colorectal cancer with BRAF V600E mutation, setting a new standard of care for this subset of patients.
A top NHS cancer surgeon emphasizes the importance of recognizing three subtle early signs of pancreatic cancer—changes in blood sugar levels, unexplained abdominal or back pain, and jaundice—to enable earlier diagnosis and improve survival chances, as the disease often goes unnoticed until it is too advanced.
A study published in Redox Biology reveals that adding high-dose intravenous vitamin C to chemotherapy significantly extends the survival of patients with late-stage pancreatic cancer from eight to 16 months. Conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa, the trial involved 34 patients and demonstrated not only increased survival but also improved patient tolerance to treatment. This promising approach, which has shown similar benefits in other cancers like glioblastoma, highlights the potential of high-dose vitamin C as an adjunctive cancer therapy.
Yale researchers have developed a cancer vaccine for dogs that nearly doubles their 12-month survival rate, and it may also be a powerful treatment for humans with cancer. The vaccine triggers the production of antibodies that bind to proteins commonly found on certain cancer cells, and it has shown promising results in clinical trials with over 300 dogs. The vaccine could be approved for use in dogs as soon as April, potentially revolutionizing veterinary oncology, and there are hopes for future trials in humans.
Tiffany Job, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer at 37 after mistaking her symptoms for a pulled muscle. Despite never smoking, her cancer had spread to her pelvis, right femur, and cervical spine. The rise of cancer cases in people under 40, including lung cancer, is a growing concern. Tiffany's tumor had a genetic mutation, qualifying her for a clinical trial, but her current treatments are no longer effective. She remains optimistic and encourages living in the moment despite the uncertainty.
Failing to check testicles regularly can lead to a deadly condition known as "cannonball lung," where testicular cancer spreads to the lungs and forms rapidly-multiplying tumors. The survival rate for testicular cancer drops from 96% to as low as 73% once it spreads beyond the testicles. A Florida-based doctor shared the case of a young patient with advanced testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs, resulting in cannonball-shaped nodules. Testicular cancer is largely treatable if caught early through self-examination, which takes only 10 seconds. Men are urged to seek medical attention if they notice any abnormalities.
A study from the University of California Los Angeles suggests that using PSA level recurrence as an indicator of overall survival in prostate cancer patients may not be reliable. While PSA levels are useful in detecting prostate cancer and evaluating risk, the study found that there is a lack of evidence to support the correlation between biochemical recurrence and long-term survivability. The researchers recommend focusing on metastasis-free survival as an endpoint for therapy trials. PSA surveillance remains an important tool, but further research is needed to better understand its utilization and impact on patient outcomes.
A study of over half a million women in England has shown that the number of people who die after a breast-cancer diagnosis has decreased by two-thirds since the 1990s. Women who were diagnosed in 1993–99 had a 14.4% risk of dying within 5 years. This fell to 4.9% for women diagnosed in 2010–15. The reasons for the drop aren’t clear, however, awareness of breast cancer has risen and, in England, routine screening is offered to more women.
Newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) followed by early treatment has increased the five-year survival rate of children with the disorder from 73% to 87%, according to a study by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The study analysed data on more than 900 children with confirmed SCID who received treatment for the condition with a transplant of blood-forming stem cells from a non-genetically matched donor at one of 34 sites in the US or Canada between 1982 and 2018. The researchers excluded infants who received stem-cell transplants from genetically matched sibling donors from the analysis, because these children had high overall survival rates throughout the study period.