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Oncology Research
Oncology Research Covid-19 And Cancer Screenings: Should I Be Screened This Year?
By Meghana Bhandari, M.D., Texas Oncology–Sugar Land
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Many questions are swirling right now about COVID-19. How can I safely go grocery shopping? How can I best protect myself and my family? And one particularly important question: Should I cancel my cancer screening to avoid the doctor’s office? The answer may surprise you. While some elective surgeries have been delayed, don’t assume screenings, including mammograms, Pap tests, and colonoscopies, are off the table. Pandemic or not, screenings are the most effective way to identify cancers in their earliest stages – often before you experience symptoms. According to the World Health Organization, 30% to 50% of all cancers may be preventable. Delaying cancer screenings may lead to detecting cancer at a later stage, requiring a more aggressive and lengthy treatment. Listen to what your body is telling you, understand your personal risk for cancer, and contact your doctor to best navigate cancer screenings during COVID-19. Be aware of new or unusual symptoms. Symptoms of concern may include, but are not limited to, unexplained weight loss, changes in bowel and bladder habits, sores that don’t heal, unusual bleeding, and/or a lump. Make an appointment with your doctor immediately if you have noticed these or other symptoms that are unusual to you. And remember that self-exams for breast, skin, and testicular cancers can be done at home. If you find something concerning, immediately alert your doctor, who will direct you to next steps. Know if you are at heightened risk for cancer. You can’t inherit cancer, but you can inherit a higher risk for developing it. Factors that determine if a person has a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer include pre-existing conditions, personal health history, and family medical history. For example, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk factors include male breast cancer at any age, breast cancer at age 45 or younger, or a relative with a BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 mutation. Talk to your doctor about the best time for you to be screened. It’s a simple yet important step to take. According to the American Cancer Society, how long it’s been since you were last screened, how prevalent COVID-19 is in your community, your risk of getting a certain type of cancer, your age, and overall health are all factors your doctor may consider when evaluating the risks and benefits for you to be screened sooner rather than later. What makes sense for you may not make sense for someone else. Your doctor can assess your medical history and individual circumstances to make
an informed decision about the best time for you to be screened. What’s more, the ease with which patients can schedule virtual appointments through telemedicine means there is no reason not to reach out. Remember, the purpose of preventative cancer screenings is to diagnose and treat cancer early. Skipping preventive screenings can adversely affect your long-term health. Don’t let fear of COVID-19 stand in the way of these essential preventative health screenings. Texas Oncology is taking extensive precautions to keep patients safe, as are medical facilities and hospitals across the state. Should a cancer screening lead to a diagnosis, rest assured it can be treated safely using a combination of in-person appointments and telemedicine – because cancer care can’t wait.
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According to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the implementation of social distancing policies corresponded with significant reductions in transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and reduced community mobility, both in the U.S. and globally, providing evidence that social distancing is a useful tool in preventing further spread of COVID-19. The study, published in PLOS ONE, estimates that social distancing policies enacted nationally in 46 countries prevented an estimated 1.57 million cases of COVID-19 over a two-week period, representing a 65% reduction in new cases. The researchers suggest these data emphasize the significant benefits that can be achieved by individuals practicing social distancing measures. “At MD Anderson, we are focused on caring for patients with cancer, and we know that our patients are highly vulnerable to COVID-19,” said senior author Raghu Kalluri, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of Cancer Biology. “Therefore, we felt it important to conduct an unbiased analysis of safety measures that could benefit our patients as well as society at large. From our data-driven analysis, it became clear that practicing social distancing can have a huge impact on transmission rates.” Impact of social distancing policies in the U.S. To determine the effectiveness of social distancing policies in the U.S., the researchers analyzed COVID-19 spread across each of the 50 states. Recognizing that many factors contribute to disease spread, they analyzed new cases before and after states enacted social distancing policies. Three states did not implement such policies, providing an opportunity for comparisons. These were analyzed over similar time periods relative to other states. “We found that states observed significant reductions in transmission rates following the implementation of social distancing policies, compared to states without such policies,” said lead author Daniel McGrail, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in Systems Biology. “In fact, two of the smallest reductions in spread were seen in states without social distancing policies.” The 47 states with social distancing policies also saw greater reductions in average community mobility compared to states without policies, which measures the movement trends of residents across residential, workplace, retail and other locations. States without social distancing policies also saw decreased mobility, although the change was significantly smaller than states with distancing policies. Impact of social distancing policies globally Understanding that the U.S. analysis was limited by a small number of states without social distancing policies, the researchers analyzed the effects of social distancing policies globally. They were able to obtain sufficient data for 46 countries with national social distancing policies, 74 nations without such policies and 14 with regional policies.
see Social Distancing ...page 13
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New Sleep Medicine Service Offers Insight into Link Between Sleep Quality and Well-Being
Quality of sleep for many has endured some collateral damage during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new study from the University of Basel in Switzerland shows people are sleeping more, but the quality of sleep is worse due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and now more than ever, there’s a need for better sleep quality. The Menninger Clinic has launched a Sleep Medicine Service with a focus on mental health and wellness. The team is led by psychiatrist Chester Wu, MD, who completed a sleep medicine fellowship at Stanford University following finishing a psychiatry residency at Baylor College of Medicine. Individuals, ages 3 and up, can get new and chronic sleep issues evaluated and treated to get their health back on track. The medical impacts of poor sleep have been well established, ranging from increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke and weight gain. Research has shown that sleep affects not only our physical health, but our mental health as well. “Poor sleep impacts our memory, attention, mood, overall quality of life and has even been associated with suicide,” says Wu, director of Sleep Medicine at Menninger. “The relationship between sleep and its effect on the mind run deep.” “When our lifestyle and stress level changes, our sleep habits follow,” Wu said, noting that sleep patterns may shift affecting health and leading to chronic insomnia. “Our service focuses on treating all disorders related to sleep including insomnia, sleep apnea, nightmares, and narcolepsy. We recognize the impact that sleep has on our mental and physical health, and vice versa.” The first step to tackling a sleep issue should be a comprehensive evaluation and potentially a sleep study to rule out if other sleep disorders or psychiatric issues may be at play,” says Menninger Psychologist Mary Rose, PsyD, DBSM, CBSM, who has specialized in sleep for over 20 years. If individuals continue to struggle to fall or stay asleep, the gold standard treatment for insomnia has been repeatedly shown to be cognitive behavioral therapy specifically for insomnia (CBT-I) to get to the root of the problem.” “Our team is also active in research to develop a greater understanding of sleep and to use research to guide patient care,” says Michelle Patriquin, PhD, ABPP, director of Research at Menninger. “Menninger published a study last year that found that individuals with untreated nighttime sleep problems have significantly worse mental health, including higher anxiety, lower quality of life and functioning, and suicidal thoughts compared to individuals who responded to treatment and had improved nighttime sleep.” Treatment and evaluation of sleep disorders is available to people in the Greater Houston area as well as to clients at Menninger. For children, common issues include restless sleep, bed time refusal, or bed-wetting. A parent may accompany their child for an overnight sleep study. Adults more commonly struggle with insomnia, sleep apnea, or excessive sleepiness during the day. Comprehensive testing is provided in a private, overnight sleep lab with an experienced technician. In some cases, at-home sleep testing may suit the situation.
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