Weekly News

Week Ending May 16, 2022

Increase Funding for the Lung Cancer Research Program
“Right now is the time to make your voice heard! You have the chance to be a part of one of our biggest successes EVER in the lung cancer community. We are so close to securing lifesaving lung cancer research funding. More than 80 groups of lung cancer patients, advocates, veterans, doctors, nurses, and many more have united to request $60M in the FY23 Defense Appropriations Bill for the Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP). We have more voices than ever before, more momentum than ever before, our request is grounded and reasonable, our arguments are sound, and we are speaking with ONE VOICE.

Your part is simple (but absolutely critical!): Ask your Senators to sign the bipartisan “Dear Colleague” letter before the deadline! The deadline to contact your Senators is May 17, so we must act NOW. Simply enter your information and click the Send Your Message Now button. Your message will automatically go to your two U.S. Senators. Consider telling your personal story for even more impact.  https://lungcan.org/act/ “

Study Finds Rural Residence May Adversely Influence Lung Cancer Screening Among Veterans
“Veterans residing in rural areas were less likely to complete annual repeat lung cancer screenings compared with those living in a nonrural location, with reduced uptake of initial lung cancer screening also found among eligible veterans in rural vs nonrural locations.”

New model may inform ‘how aggressively a lung cancer should be treated’
“Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the world. More than 2.2 million people received a new lung cancer diagnosis in 2020. Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in men and the second most common in women.”

Mutations in Lung Cells Linked to Pack-Years of Smoking
“People who never smoked were less likely to have cell mutations linked to lung cancer.”

Powering up a lung cancer patient’s immune cells
“Lung cancer is by far the most common cause of cancer death. Because more than half of people with lung cancer die within a year of their diagnoses, Nebraska Medicine is committed to early detection and new therapies.”

Quitting Smoking Even After Lung Cancer Diagnosis Worth Doing
“Patients who quit smoking at or around the time of a lung cancer diagnosis live longer than those who continue to smoke, concludes a new meta-analysis.”

Lourdes Hospital’s Pulmonologist First in Region to Use Innovative Technology for Lung Cancer Diagnosis
“Mercy Health physician and pulmonologist Mohamad Khoudoud, MD, is the first doctor in the Paducah region to use an innovative technology called robotic bronchoscopy to help diagnose lung nodules earlier and more accurately.”

CASCADE-LUNG Enrolls First Patients to Validate a Novel Lung Cancer Screening Test
“The first participants have been enrolled in the CASCADE-LUNG study, a prospective, multicenter trial.”

VIDEO:
Key Signs of SCLC Transformation in Patients With EGFR+ NSCLC
“Ravi Salgia, MD, PhD, discusses the ways in which oncologists can watch out for non-small cell lung cancer that transforms to small-cell lung cancer.”

Week Ending May 16, 2022

How Nutrigenomics May Impact the Way You Eat
“Choosing what to eat and the steps you need take to achieve your health goals can be overwhelming. With so many diets out there and numerous experts who all have different opinions, how can you determine what’ll work for you? Nutrigenomics provides some clarity.”

6 Natural Antihistamines to Help With Allergies
“Antihistamines treat seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever. A lot of people take antihistamine medications, but some natural antihistamines are available, as well.”

Is Acupuncture Any Help for Depression?
“Acupuncture is what’s known as a complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapy that involves inserting thin needles into the skin at specific points on the body to stimulate the central nervous system.”

5 Ways To Make Your Nighttime Routine More Meaningful 
“No matter your work schedule, you probably know how difficult it can be to maximize the remaining hours of the day. After you’ve done all of the necessary tasks like making dinner, picking up the house, or maybe getting in some evening movement, you’re left with little time to yourself. Yes, you could spend that time scrolling on your phone or watching television (and sometimes that’s exactly what we need), but other times you may crave something a bit more meaningful. “

Being Unable to Afford Healthy Food Can Raise Diabetes Risk
“Young adults who struggle to afford food face an increased risk of diabetes later in life, possibly due to the long-term effects of eating cheaper, less nutritious food.”

It’s Time to Reframe Chronic Pain
“Persistent headaches and back pain. Achy bones, especially feet and hands. Gnawing, cramping guts. Whole-body soreness. So many people live with various flavors of chronic pain, and often go months or years without finding relief.”

Alternative medical care still has its place. Here is why
“While Ayurveda can have positive effects when used as a complementary therapy in combination with standard, conventional medical care, it should not replace the latter, especially when treating serious conditions”

How To Harness The Power Of Your Dreams, From A Psychologist
“Every night when you sleep and dream, you’re gifted the opportunity to deepen your connection to your own psyche and the spirit world. I (and many cultures through time) believe that spirit speaks to us when we sleep, and if we listen closely enough, we’re guided in what action to take in our waking lives.”

A Harvard nutritionist and brain expert avoids these 5 types of foods that can make you ‘tired and stressed’
“While many conscientious eaters think constantly about the food we’re eating — how it will affect our hearts, the environment and most of all, our waistlines — we rarely think about its impact on our brains, mood and energy levels.”

Can meditation and mindfulness exercises reduce stress?
“Meditation is known to reduce blood pressure as well as symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, according to studies evaluated by the National Institutes of Health. It may also ease symptoms of anxiety and depression and may help people with insomnia.”

Week Ending May 9, 2022

Review Outlines Advancements in Precision Therapy for Metastatic Lung Cancer
“In a new review published in The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, researchers outlined how targeted therapies and personalized medicine offer potential in redefining molecular lung cancer care.”

Clinical Chest Images Power Up Survival Prediction in Lung Cancer
“In patients with stage I lung cancer, adding noncancerous features from CT chest imaging predicts overall survival better than clinical characteristics alone, according to a paper published online in the American Journal of Roentgenology.”

Dr Anne Chiang Discusses Considerations in SCLC Treatment: Benefits vs Side Effects, and Quality of Life
“Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, is an associate professor of medicine in the Section of Medical Oncology at Yale School of Medicine, specializing in thoracic oncology, with a background in translational research in metastasis; she has extensive experience in clinical practice in both academic and community settings. In addition, Chiang is the deputy chief medical officer and chief integration officer for Smilow Cancer Hospital, where she has helped build the SCH Network and spearhead both quality initiatives as well as clinical research.”

Is There a Vaccine for Lung Cancer?
“Cancer vaccines may sound like science fiction, but they already exist. Some vaccines, like the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, can prevent cancer. Other types of vaccines help treat cancer.”

VA Medical Center Uses New Robotic Arm to Diagnose Lung Cancer in Veterans
“A new robotic member of the Thoracic Oncology program is lending a hand to diagnose and treat lung cancer patients at the Washington DC VA Medical Center.”

Delfi Diagnostics Initiates 15,000-Patient Prospective Lung Cancer Screening Trial
“Delfi Diagnostics, a pioneering developer of next generation high performance, affordable liquid biopsy tests for early cancer detection, has enrolled the first participants in the CASCADE-LUNG study. CASCADE-LUNG is a prospective, multi-center trial that will enroll up to 15,000 participants at the time of their low dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening and will add to the clinical validation of Delfi’s liquid biopsy test for lung cancer detection.”

VIDEO:
Role of Immunotherapy in Newly Diagnosed NSCLC

Week Ending May 9, 2022

Non-Drug Therapy Can Help Insomnia in Cancer Survivors, But More Research Is Needed in Those Undergoing Treatment
“Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to improve insomnia in cancer survivors; however, research is lacking in whether it benefits patients with advanced-stage cancer and those undergoing active treatment, according to results of a study presented at the 47th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress.”

3 Ways To Harness The Healing Power Of Nature — And How To Give Back In Return
“There’s no denying that our health is intrinsically connected to the health of the planet. Without clean air to breathe, nutritious foods to eat, and biodiversity to keep the ecosystems functioning, we would cease to exist.”

How to boost your attention and ability to function with meditation, exercise and sleep
“Whether you’re driving a car with children yelling in the backseat or trying to read a book in a coffee shop while someone talks loudly on their phone, attention is essential for navigating and interacting with the world.”

How Gardening Can Improve Your Health
“When it comes to warm-weather activities that are good for your health, you probably think of walking, hiking or running. But there’s another beloved pastime that holds a lot of benefits with a bonus to boot: Gardening.”

New Report Reveals Surprising Insights into How Exercise Goals and Habits Change with Age
“Age Bold, Inc. (Bold), a digital health company delivering science-based exercise programs for balance and fall prevention, joint pain management, and healthier aging has announced the findings of its latest survey revealing the current state of exercise, health, and aging among older adults nationwide.”

8 Daily Habits to Boost Mental Health — and Signs It May Be Time to Get Support
“Mental health is a widely discussed concept, these days. You might notice discussions about mental health online, in conversation, on your favorite show, or any number of other places.”

Can tea prevent cancer and improve overall health?
“Leading scientists in the field of tea research recently met virtually at the Sixth International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health to discuss the current state of knowledge and the gaps in understanding about the benefits of tea. Researchers discussed many topics at the symposium, which included the potential beneficial effects of tea on cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and the prevention of cancer.”

The Intricate Tie Between Negative Emotions & Gut Health, From A Therapist
“Have you noticed that symptoms like stomachache, headache, gassy belly, or muscle pain might co-occur on days when you feel more frazzled? Like when you wake up with a mild headache, physical discomfort can set you up for a day of impatience, irritability, and overall frazzle-brain. It can feel and sound as if your body were a discordant instrument of noisy discomfort.”

Milk Thistle Promotes Brain and Liver Health, Detoxification & More*
“Among the wide array of herbal remedies that have captured the attention of humans, a distinct violet-hued flower with spikes has been fondly called upon for its detoxifying benefits. The story of milk thistle begins long ago. Tales from hundreds and thousands of years ago report its favored use.“

Why You Should Try Bedtime Yoga
“For the estimated 70 million adults who experience chronic sleep issues, bedtime yoga may be an effective addition to your nightly routine.1 Yoga is a mindfulness practice that connects the mind and body through intentional breathing, physical postures, and meditation.”

Week Ending May 2, 2022

New data may change the standard of care for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer
“The phase 2 clinical trial of a multi-center study known as the COAST clinical trial has demonstrated improved outcomes using immunotherapy combinations for patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer, according to researchers at Yale Cancer Center and participating organizations. The results are the first to demonstrate evidence of improved clinical outcomes with novel combinations of immunotherapy in this patient population. The results were published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.”

Driving Lung Cancer Research With Compassion
“We are writing this letter to strongly recommend Livia Szeto, B.S.N., RN, OCN, for the 2022 Extraordinary Healer® Award.”

Study Finds Risk of Overinvestigation in Patients With Lung Cancer Not Fit for Anticancer Treatment
“Among a group of patients with lung cancer who were not suitable for anticancer treatment, the researchers found that 40% underwent additional investigations after their initial CT scan before eventually receiving best supportive care.”

Early lung cancer detection improves survival rates
“The American Cancer Society estimated the numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in the United States, projecting nearly 2 million new cancer cases and more than 600,000 deaths in 2022.”

Roundtable Discussion: Riess Looks at the Options in Treating High PD-L1 NSCLC
“During a Targeted Oncology case-based roundtable event, Jonathan Wesley Riess, MD, MS, discussed the case of a 72-year-old patient with non–small cell lung cancer with high PD-L1 expression.”

What Is Rehabilitation for NSCLC?
“After you’ve finished treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), you may wonder what comes next. As you recover from the side effects of your cancer and its treatments, this is when what’s known as follow-up care begins.”

Mirati Therapeutics to Present New Research at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting Showcasing Clinical Advances of Treating KRASG12C-Mutated Lung Cancer with Investigational Adagrasib
“Mirati Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage targeted oncology company today announced the presentation of new clinical research showcasing the potential of its investigational KRASG12C inhibitor, adagrasib, in a study of patients with KRASG12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting taking place June 3 to 7, 2022 in Chicago, IL.”

Overcoming MET TKI Resistance in Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“In an interview with Targeted Oncology™, Yonina R. Murciano-Goroff, MD, MSc, DPhil, discussed how MET fusions impact patients with NSCLC and the issue of resistance to targeted therapies that treat MET fusion-positive disease.”

VIDEO:
Factors in Selecting Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Expert panelists look at all factors that inform treatment selection when managing a patient diagnosed with non–small cell lung cancer.”

Biomarker Testing Practices in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Comprehensive discussion on how biomarker testing and multidisciplinary care can improve the management of non–small cell lung cancer.”

Dr Melissa Johnson Highlights Potential Lung Cancer Treatments in the Pipeline
“Melissa Johnson, MD, program director of Lung Cancer Research at Sarah Cannon, discusses the potential of certain drug classes for lung cancer.”

Week Ending May 2, 2022

Rodgers, Banks, & Wenstrup Lead QALY Ban to Affirm Every Person’s Life has Value
“Today, House Energy and Commerce Republican Leader and Republican Study Committee Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, RSC Chairman Jim Banks, and RSC Member and GOP Doctors Caucus Co-Chair Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M, introduced The Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, important legislation that would expand access to life saving cures and prevent discrimination against Americans with disabilities.”

7 stretches to improve flexibility and reduce aches and pains
“Improving flexibility helps with circulation, reduces aches and pains, and leads to better mobility during day-to-day activities. As we get older, our bodies fall into habitual patterns.”

These 6 Organs Detox Your Body — Here’s How To Support Them Daily
“The concept of “doing” a detox is floated around regularly, but the truth is that your body naturally works hard to detox itself 24/7. Certain organs in your body (six in total!) have specialized processes that help get rid of unnecessary metabolites and unwanted toxins while keeping everything else in good working order.”

Being in Nature: Good for Mind, Body and Nutrition
“In late 2020, Canadian doctors made headlines for “prescribing nature,” or recommended time outdoors based on research that suggests people who spent two or more hours in nature per week improved their health and wellbeing.”

Automated nutrition app can help people follow healthier diet
“People could benefit from fully automated personal nutritional advice, as a new research paper shows that an app improved healthy diet in clinical trials.”

What are some natural treatments for osteoarthritis?
“Some people with osteoarthritis (OA) find relief from natural treatments, such as physical therapy and acupuncture. Many experts recommend a combination of drug-based and natural treatments for people with OA.”

A Guide to Essential Oils for NSCLC
“Essential oils are a type of complementary therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They aren’t a traditional treatment like surgery or chemotherapy. However, some of these oils might help with managing symptoms like sleep or anxiety while you’re undergoing treatment.”

What is the macrobiotic diet?
“The macrobiotic diet is a strict diet that claims to reduce toxins. It involves eating whole grains and vegetables and avoiding foods high in fat, salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients.”

Can Complementary Therapies Ease Cancer Treatment Symptoms? What the Science Says
“After Marianne Sarcich underwent treatment for breast cancer in 2016, she called an acupuncturist in hopes of easing her cancer-related anxiety—but made sure to be upfront”

What the Science Says About the Health Benefits of Vitamins and Supplements
“From multivitamins and melatonin to fiber and fish oil, Americans who are trying to boost their health and immunity have a plethora of supplements to choose from. An estimated 58% of U.S. adults ages 20 and over take dietary supplements, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,”

How To Create A Personalized Wellness Routine That Actually Works For You
“When it comes to addressing health and well-being goals, I often see people attempt to fix everything at once. They stock up on all the latest books, sign up for a gym membership, and pack enough kale in their crisper drawer to feed a small country.”

GOOD NUTRITION IS THE BEST MEDICINE
“Diets high in fat, sodium, sugar, and processed and fast foods are linked to chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, and certain cancers. By tweaking your diet, you can prevent those chronic conditions or improve your health and treatment outcomes for those conditions.”

Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day?
“Breakfast is often described as the most important meal of the day, but is skipping this morning meal really detrimental to health? Newer research suggests this may not be as bad as many of us believe. In this Honest Nutrition feature, we take an in-depth look at breakfast and whether skipping it is really harmful.”

What The Experts Want You To Know Before You Try Cupping
“Cupping therapy has been one of the most buzzed-about alternative treatments in the wellness space for years now.”

Week Ending April 25, 2022

COVID-19 and Lung Cancer: A Comprehensive Overview from Outbreak to Recovery
“Lung cancer patients have been associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection, pulmonary complications, and worse survival outcomes compared to the general population.”

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Granted Priority Review by FDA for Previously Treated HER2-Mutant Metastatic NSCLC
“Patients with HER2-mutated metastatic non–small cell lung cancer who have previously received treatment with systemic therapies appear to benefit from treatment with fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki, which received priority review from the FDA.”

Access to Quality Lung Cancer Care
“When you have lung cancer, having access to high-quality health care is vitally important. Access to care is defined as “the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best health outcomes.”¹”

The New Tool in the Fight Against Lung Cancer
“There have been significant developments over the last decade when it comes to the treatment of lung cancer. One of those developments has been the use of immunotherapy.”

Black Veterans receive equal, or superior, lung cancer care in VA
“Black Veterans with lung cancer receive comparable care, with equivalent, if not superior, treatment outcomes as white Veterans at VA, according to a study by VA St. Louis researchers. VA cancer care appears to be more equitable than care received in the private sector, where significant racial disparities exist.”

Certain patients may derive more benefit from immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer
“Men, smokers and younger patients with non-small cell lung cancer all appeared to derive more benefit from immunotherapy, according to a systematic review published in JNCI Cancer Spectrum.”

VIDEO:
A Year of Lung Cancer Improvements, With More Work To Do

EGFR Exon 20 Insertion–Positive NSCLC: Overview of Treatment Options

Week Ending April 25, 2022

What Is Polarity Therapy?
“If you’re looking for an intervention that combines counseling, bodywork, and lifestyle changes, you may want to learn more about polarity therapy.”

How Often You Should Exercise
“Regular exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle. But you might be wondering how much exercise you need in a given week to get the most benefits.”

Live Whole Health #119: Mindful moment
“The average person has more than 6,000 thoughts in a single day. That’s a lot of thinking! There are so many distractions in our lives. Even with the chaotic pace of our days, there are quick and simple ways to focus on being mindful.”

How to eat healthy on a budget: 7 tips from experts on foods to eat and diet hacks amid cost of living crisis
“Buying food and drink is 5.9% more expensive on average than it was in 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics, with the poorest households set to be hardest hit”

Nutrition equity: How to give nutrition advice to diverse families
“If nutrition advice were easy to follow, the number of children with type 2 diabetes and obesity would be going down, not up. But as many pediatricians and nutritionists know, food cravings, picky eaters, and hectic schedules pose serious challenges. Add language barriers, a lack of accessible food choices, or food insecurity to the mix, and healthy nutritional habits become even more difficult to sustain.”

Recognizing and treating disorders of gut-brain interaction
“The clinical scenario above (names altered for privacy) is surprisingly common for gastroenterologists. These doctors of the esophagus, stomach, small intestines, colon, pancreas, and liver are well trained to identify and treat conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that occur from diseases caused by inflammation, infection, or cancer.”

What Are Alternative, Complementary, and Integrative Health Approaches?
“Nearly one-third of Americans say they use alternative health approaches, also known as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).  And if you’ve ever attended a yoga class, taken a breath to destress, or received a massage, you can count yourself as someone who’s tested out this approach. Here’s a look at what these terms mean, their potential benefits, and how to find the right practitioner for you.”

Pain Task Force Updates White Paper on the Role of Acupuncture for Acute Pain
“The majority of reviews indicate that acupuncture therapy may effectively reduce acute pain and has the potential to decrease reliance on opioids. These white paper findings, by the Academic Consortium Pain Task Force, were published in Pain Medicine.”

Integrative approaches to common GI disorders
“Treatment for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease (CD), and colitis are limited when it comes to standard medications and other conventional medical interventions. The only real known cure for CD, for example, is a gluten-free diet for life, and irritable bowel syndrome is often treated by adding fiber to a child’s diet, bowel training, and other nonpharmacologic approaches. With this in mind, Alexandra Russell, MD, from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee, offered a lively and informative discussion of alternative treatments to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with various GI disorders in children.”

Week Ending April 18, 2022

Adebrelimab Improves PFS, OS in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Adebrelimab plus chemotherapy improved survival outcomes over chemotherapy alone in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), according to results from a phase 3 trial presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2022.”

COVID-19 caused millions of missed cancer screenings; how will oncology community respond?
“Although much remains unknown about the impact of COVID-19 on people with cancer, the impact on screening is becoming clearer.”

Neoadjuvant Nivolumab a ‘New Standard’ in Lung Cancer
— “Another quantum leap in lung cancer therapy,” expert says
NEW ORLEANS – “The addition of the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy substantially improved event-free survival (EFS) in patients with operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the phase III CheckMate 816 trial showed.”

Einstein Researchers Explain Why Some Smokers Get Lung Cancer, And Others Don’t
“Not all smokers develop lung cancer. Einstein researchers have found a new way to identify smokers who at higher risk for lung cancer.”

Should People With HIV Be Prioritized for Lung Cancer Screening?
“A small Spanish study suggests that screening people living with HIV for lung cancer results in a high rate of diagnosis.”

Lumakras® (Sotorasib) Codebreak 100 Study Shows Two-Year Overall Survival Of 32.5% in Patients With Kras G12c-Mutated Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Amgen today announced the presentation of long-term efficacy and safety data from the CodeBreaK 100 Phase 1/2 trial in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received LUMAKRAS® (sotorasib)*.”

Immunotherapy may boost survival for lung cancer patients
“Lifelong smoker Mike James had quit the habit for nearly three years when, through fluky circumstances, he found out that he had a small tumor in his right lung.”

Revolutionary lung cancer detection tool performs 100th procedure at Freeman
“A revolutionary robotic tool, which helps Freeman Health System doctors detect and treat early-stage lung cancer, recently performed its 100th successful procedure.”

In the Neoadjuvant Setting, Combination Immunotherapy With Durvalumab Is More Effective Than Durvalumab Alone for Early-Stage NSCLC
“Combination immunotherapy with the anti–PD-L1 monoclonal antibody durvalumab and other novel agents outperforms durvalumab alone in the neoadjuvant setting for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to research presented by Cascone et al at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022 (Abstract CT011).”

Patients With Lung Cancer and a Genetic Variant Linked to Autoimmune Disease May Be Especially Responsive to Immunotherapy
“A variant of the CTLA-4 gene associated with autoimmune disease was found to be more frequent in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who experienced an exceptionally high response to anti–PD-1 immunotherapy and a higher rate of immune-related side effects than in a comparable cohort of patients with lung cancer and healthy individuals, according to data presented by Allen et al during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022 (Abstract 665).”

VIDEO:
Dr Davey Daniel on Barriers Limiting Genomic Testing Use in Lung Cancer
“Davey Daniel, MD, chief medical officer, OneOncology, speaks on the knowledge, infrastructure, and payer-related barriers that are limiting the use of genomic testing in the management of patients with lung cancer.”

Week Ending April 18, 2022

Can Produce Prescription Programs Turn the Tide on Diet-Related Disease?
“As the farm bill process ramps up and some hope to expand the use of Produce Rx programs, new research seeks to assess the impact of this “food as medicine” tactic.”

Prevention: The benefits of exercise are more expansive than you think
“It might surprise you that getting physically stronger can improve one’s mental health, too, but that’s the experience of people who begin to walk or work out. The initial goal might be to increase arm strength or to lose weight, but the mental health benefits become obvious over time.”

‘Promising evidence’ that osteopathy may relieve musculoskeletal pain
“There’s “promising evidence” that osteopathy, the physical manipulation of the body’s tissues and bones, may relieve the pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions, finds a review of the available clinical evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Open.”

Grappling With the Science of Touch-Based Healing Practices
“Developed in the early 1980s by Colorado nurse Janet Mentgen, Healing Touch is rooted in the idea that near-body or light touch can support the body’s ability to heal. While it remains on the fringe of mainstream medicine, the Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloane Kettering and more than 30 percent of America’s Veteran Administration (VA) hospital system have incorporated healing-touch therapies into conventional treatment to comfort patients.”

Why and How To Start an Elimination Diet
“Sometimes, the foods you love don’t love you back. When your body responds to your favorite foods with symptoms like bloating and diarrhea, you may start regretting some of your food choices.”

Supporting Healthy Eating in Your Patients: A Nutritionist’s Advice
“Often in western medicine, the mind and body are treated separately—as if they are entities that do not deeply rely on one other to work well. We are not disembodied heads resting on top of a separate body. The mind and the body are interconnected and need to be addressed as a whole.”

How Nature Supports Immunity, Longevity & Brain Health — Backed By Research
“We hesitate to call nature a “tool” you can use to benefit your health—as that greatly underestimates the amazing capacities of the world around us—but we also can’t ignore the sheer number of healing benefits associated with getting outside.”

Study explores perceptions of and preferences for complementary and integrative medicine options for chronic headache
“A new study from researchers with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Regenstrief Institute is one of the first to explore the perceptions and preferences of both patients and their healthcare providers regarding the use of complementary and integrative medicine treatments in conjunction with mainstream medicine for chronic headache.”

Flow state, exercise and healthy ageing: 5 unexpected benefits of singing
“Singing with others feels amazing. Group singing promotes social bonding and has been shown to raise oxytocin (the “bonding hormone”) and decrease cortisol (the “stress hormone”).”

Physical activity reduces depression risk in adults, study finds
“Adults who engage in recommended levels of physical activity are less likely to develop depression, an analysis published Wednesday found.”

On Nutrition: Another look at the Dirty Dozen
“Did you ever think that strawberries, spinach and kale would be called “filthy”? Or leafy green vegetables “repeat offenders”? That’s exactly how these especially nutritious fruits and vegetables are described in a recent article in USA Today.”

Happiness Is a Salad: Strong Correlations Between What We Eat and How We Feel
“Many of us — in the West, at least — seem to suffer from what psychologists call the “Unhealthy = Tasty Intuition”: we subconsciously assume that healthy foods are not as tasty, enjoyable, or satisfying as unhealthy foods.[1] This belief seems to lead to a particular dislike for vegetables[2] and, although it is not shared by everyone — specifically, not by people who enjoy eating and are interested in health[3] — recent research suggests that, due to rapid globalization and urbanization, the beliefs that we have about food are converging across many different cultures.”