Spencer Poiset

Oct 17, 2024 | survivornet.com | Spencer Poiset

When a doctor suspects a patient may have a glioma, they will perform a thorough workup to get an accurate diagnosis in order to tailor treatment to the patient and cancer. The first step is a clinical assessment, where a doctor will take a detailed health history and document any symptoms, followed by a neurological exam. MRI is the gold standard imaging modality for diagnosing gliomas and provides detailed anatomic images of the brain with precise visualization of the tumor.

Oct 17, 2024 | survivornet.com | Spencer Poiset

A glioma is a type of tumor that originates in the central nervous system, specifically in the brain or spinal cord. These tumors originate in glial cells, supportive cells in the brain which serve to protect and maintain the neurons. Gliomas can vary widely in their behavior, meaning some are benign while others are considered malignant or cancers. Each type of glioma is typically classified further by their grade, which is a measure of how aggressive the tumor is.

Mar 25, 2024 | survivornet.com | Spencer Poiset

Ovarian cancer is a serious disease which often has poor outcomes. Fortunately, more effective treatment options continue to be developed. The FDA recently approved a targeted therapy called ELAHERE for epithelial ovarian cancer that is folate receptor alpha positive and platinum-resistant.

Mar 20, 2024 | survivornet.com | Spencer Poiset

Imetelstat, a new drug known as a teloerase inhibitor, is makings its way towards FDA approval for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The drug works by preventing the enzyme telomerase from lengthening the ends of DNA (called telomeres). Telomerase in often found in cells that undergo frequent replication — such as stem cells and cancer cells. Treatment for MDS typically consists of slowing the disease course and managing symptoms. Often, patients have to undergo frequent blood transfusions.

Oct 2, 2023 | survivornet.com | Spencer Poiset

AstraZeneca recently announced that in an ongoing clinical trial the combination of TAGRISSO plus chemotherapy improved progression-free survival (PFS) by 9 months as compared to TAGRISSO alone in patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated lung cancer. At this time the current standard of care for metastatic EGFR-mutated lung cancer is typically taking TAGRISSO alone.