Older women have different reactions to a breast cancer diagnosis than their younger counterparts.Women between the ages of 65-70 may find the diagnosis is their first “health crisis” and feel a vulnerability they haven’t previously experienced. In comparison, women over the age of 70 tend to feel that the diagnosis is a concern but is also one of many different aspects of the general aging process. The side effects of treatment such as nausea and fatigue affect women over 65 differently as they may be associated with a decrease in the ability to maintain regular routines and social contacts. The loss of independence ranks among the most significant fears for people as they age, and as a result, older adults tend to feel the need to maintain their independence, even when managing a cancer diagnosis. While it was difficult to ask for tangible support, older women who were able to accept their limitations and vulnerabilities after a breast cancer diagnosis found it to be essential to their healing and quality of life.




A recent study surveyed 610 oncologists on cancer pain management. Most rated their ability to manage their patients pain a 7 out of 10. The survey included two common scenarios about a patient who is in pain despite being on a relatively high dose of opioids. Most doctors missed the correct answers — 60% on one of the scenarios and 87% on another question that required oncologists to explain why a steep increase in opioid dose would be dangerous. The author of the study stated that there is a need for medical schools and residency programs to do a better job of preparing future oncologists to manage pain. Few oncologists referred patients regularly to pain specialists. A takeaway message from this study is that cancer patients need to know there are specialists in pain medicine and palliative care medicine, and shouldn’t be afraid to request consults to manage their pain.






Dr. Jeffrey Trent, PhD, President and Research Director of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), was recently named the leader of a $6 million Melanoma Dream Team study announced by Stand Up To Cancer, the Melanoma Research Alliance and the American Association for Cancer Research.

This unique clinical study will pursue new therapies for a type of melanoma known as BRAF Wild-Type, for which there are few treatment options. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

The project, which will involve nearly 50 scientists and 150 patients at more than a dozen institutes, is intended to accelerate the application of new therapeutic agents, quickly moving new scientific discoveries to clinics where they can immediately benefit patients. In the U.S., nearly 70,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year. Someone dies from melanoma every hour; about 8,000 annually.

TGen is also part of a team of researchers on a clinical trial studying triple-negative breast cancer, for which there are few treatments.

At the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in early December, preliminary results were released, showing that an inhibitor for a growth pathway known as MEK/AKT produced an impressive response. If MEK/AKT activation is found to be present in a substantial fraction of triple-negative patients, inhibitors of this pathway could prove a significant tool in fighting this disease, according to a presentation.

“This is among the largest studies of a single tumor type in which whole genome sequencing is being used to identify potential options for targeted treatment,” said John Carpten, PhD, Director of TGen’s Integrated Cancer Genomics Division. “As the field of genomic medicine matures, this study is sure to provide key early insights into how sequencing can best be utilized in the clinic.” Find out more at tgen.org.