Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer of American Cancer Society and President of American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“I’m back from American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)’s Annual Meeting and here’s what excites me:
- Pancreas cancer breakthrough. One of the hardest cancers to treat now has a once-a-day pill that nearly doubles survival and cuts the risk of death rate by 60%, particularly in a highly pre-treated population. And this same target drives other cancers. A big deal.
- Fewer people with breast cancer need chemotherapy – and the outcomes are nearly just as good. A study of 4,429 node-positive, ER+/HER2 patients found that 68% scored low on genomic testing, meaning they can safely skip chemotherapy. Five-year cancer free survival? 90% for those who didn’t do chemo, 91% for those who did. After 50 years of “more is better,” this is a powerful reminder that less therapy can still lead to strong outcomes – with far less burden on patients.
- AI (because of course) helps people with lung cancer get targeted therapy. Nearly 2 out of 3 patients with lung cancer who could benefit from a targeted drug never get matched to one. New AI tools are closing this gap by reading slides and records we already have – getting the right patient to the right drug, and faster.
- Yoga works. A study of 410 survivors of cancer found that just four weeks of gentle yoga eases anxiety and fatigue, and improves sleep. Living well is part of treatment.
These studies from ASCO26 – and many more – show us the science has never been stronger and, as we strive to help people with cancer live more and better days, breakthroughs matter most when everyone has access.”
Other articles featuring Arif Kamal on OncoDaily.