Out of Nowhere: Kidney Cancer

Out of Nowhere: Kidney Cancer By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD MSPH Of the estimated 1.9 million cancers diagnosed each year in the US, around 4 percent are kidney cancers, the most common are renal cell carcinomas (RCC). Around 76,000 new cases will occur in the US in 2021, 48,0000 in men and 27,000 in women. Kidney cancer can occur at any age, but is most likely to be diagnosed between the ages of 55 - 75.1,2,3 Out of the Blue Patients and caregivers describe sudden and unexpected diagnoses of kidney cancer: My husband was just newly diagnosed [...]

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Aug 2021By |0 Comments

Genetic and Cellular Studies Carve New Pathways to Treating Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Genetic and Cellular Studies Carve New Pathways to Treating Ovarian Cancer By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Ovarian, fallopian tube cancer and primary peritoneal cancer are often grouped under the name epithelial ovarian cancer. When classified as subcategories of ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancers and fallopian tube cancers are considered rare. The incidence rate of primary peritoneal cancer is estimated to be 6.78 per million.1 Fallopian tube cancers have been thought to be “very rare,” accounting for 1-2% of all gynecologic cancers.2 Because these cancers are usually advanced by the time they are diagnosed, it has been difficult [...]

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Jun 2021By |0 Comments

Cancer, COVID, and Vaccinations: The Patient Perspective at ASCO 2021

Cancer, COVID, and Vaccinations: The Patient Perspective at ASCO 2021 By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Inspire is presenting the results of two separate surveys during the American Society of Clinical Oncology® (ASCO) virtual conference being held June 4-8. Chosen from the more than 5,400 abstracts submitted for the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, the studies focus on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and reactions to the vaccine among patients with cancer. Inspire’s cancer community Inspire has almost one million members who are patients with cancer and their caregivers. In the last 15 years, over three million posts (3,555,105) have been [...]

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Jun 2021By |0 Comments

The Kidney Cancer Support Community on Inspire

The Kidney Cancer Support Community on Inspire By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD MSPH Of the over 1 million cancers diagnosed each year in the US, around 3 percent are kidney cancers.1 This relatively rare cancer is twice as likely to develop in men as women. Around 73,000 new cases will occur in the US in 2019, about 44,000 men and 29,000 women.2 Kidney Cancer Association Kidney Cancer Support Community on Inspire Started in 2014, the Kidney Cancer Association Kidney Cancer Support Community on Inspire has grown to approximately 2600 members; 64 percent are female, 36 percent male. [...]

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Sep 2019By |0 Comments

Warring Parties: Voices of Patients in Pain Vs. “Opioid Crisis”

Warring Parties: Voices of Patients in Pain Vs. “Opioid Crisis” By Sara Ray So many of us have pain management issues. We are fighting the doctors and the state laws and the insurance companies. The "opiod [sic] crisis" is an illegal drug problem; it is not a prescription problem for chronic pain patients. However, we are the ones who suffer. An increasing majority of doctors are scared to prescribe. I am scared every time I go for an appointment because I am afraid they will cut back my medication. ~Inspire member In July 2018, Kathleen Hoffman, Senior [...]

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Oct 2018By |0 Comments

What Do Patients and Caregivers Know about Immunotherapy?

What Do Patients and Caregivers Know about Immunotherapy? Inspire’s Immunotherapy Awareness and Perceptions Survey According to a 2012 study, patient activation means “having the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage one’s health.”  The study confirmed that better health outcomes are typically associated with greater patient knowledge and activation.1  As the field of oncology continues to embrace personalized medicine with immuno-oncology and immunotherapy, patient activation is essential. Today, in a world with content flooding every single channel and device we own, consumers are either over-informed, or under-informed.  A wide range of information sources, ranging from news outlets to [...]

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Sep 2017By |0 Comments