Meningiomas are primarily bengin tumors originating in the lining of the brain and spinal column. Though benign, these tumors are not easily dismissed. There is a complexity in treatment decision making and it seems that any route taken in dealing with this condition can be a difficult one for both patient and family.
The following article includes a reference to patient advocacy in getting these tumors collected by the cancer registry, a step forward to greater understanding of meningiomas and the treatment options considered with this diagnosis.
http://www.cns.org/publications/clinical/54/pdf/cnb00107000091.pdf
Education resource:
http://www.braintumortreatment.com/Brain-Tumors/Tumor-Types/Meningioma.aspx/?9gtype=content&9gkw=meningioma%20tumors&9gad=4988104037.1&9gag=1527298907&gclid=CJmHvN-vl6MCFRxEgwodkjsHoQ
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Health Plans Must Provide Some Tests at No Cost
July 15, 2010 by The New York Times, Robert Pear
WASHINGTON — The White House on Wednesday issued new rules requiring health insurance companies to provide free coverage for dozens of screenings, laboratory tests and other types of preventive care.
The new requirements promise significant benefits for consumers — if they take advantage of the services that should now be more readily available and affordable.
In general, the government said, Americans use preventive services at about half the rate recommended by doctors and public health experts.
The rules will eliminate co-payments, deductibles and other charges for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol tests; many cancer screenings; routine vaccinations; prenatal care; and regular wellness visits for infants and children.
Other services that must be offered at no charge include counseling to help people stop smoking; screening and counseling for obesity; and tests for infection with the virus that causes AIDS.
“Getting rid of cost-sharing is a long-overdue step in the right direction,” said Kenneth E. Thorpe, a professor of health policy at Emory University in Atlanta. “But we will have to do a major public education campaign to get people to take advantage of these clinical preventive services.”
The rules stipulate that no co-payments can be charged for tests and screenings recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of scientific experts. The rules apply to new health plans that begin coverage after Sept. 23 and to existing health plans that make significant changes after that date. The administration said the requirements could increase premiums by 1.5 percent, on average.
Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said the rules would extend benefits to 31 million people in new employer-sponsored plans and 10 million people in new individual plans next year.
In many cases, insurers will be allowed to charge for goods and services needed to treat a condition detected in a screening. For example, consumers can receive free screenings for depression and high cholesterol, but they might be charged co-payments for antidepressants and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
In some cases, the task force has specified how frequently a service, like colonoscopy, should be performed. If the guidelines are silent, the rules say, an insurer may use “reasonable medical management techniques to determine the frequency” of services.
The administration is working on a supplemental list of free preventive services for women.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America says insurance plans should be required to cover contraceptives without co-payments.
“For women, what could be more basic preventive care than birth control?” asked Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood.
Other services that must be provided without charge include genetic counseling for certain women with a family history of breast cancer, counseling to promote breast-feeding by new mothers and screening for osteoporosis in older women.
Ms. Sebelius said that 100,000 deaths could be averted each year if doctors and patients effectively used five services: colorectal and breast cancer screening, flu vaccines and counseling on smoking cessation and on aspirin therapy to prevent heart disease.
http://rxroundtable.org/2010/07/15/health-plans-must-provide-some-tests-at-no-cost/
WASHINGTON — The White House on Wednesday issued new rules requiring health insurance companies to provide free coverage for dozens of screenings, laboratory tests and other types of preventive care.
The new requirements promise significant benefits for consumers — if they take advantage of the services that should now be more readily available and affordable.
In general, the government said, Americans use preventive services at about half the rate recommended by doctors and public health experts.
The rules will eliminate co-payments, deductibles and other charges for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol tests; many cancer screenings; routine vaccinations; prenatal care; and regular wellness visits for infants and children.
Other services that must be offered at no charge include counseling to help people stop smoking; screening and counseling for obesity; and tests for infection with the virus that causes AIDS.
“Getting rid of cost-sharing is a long-overdue step in the right direction,” said Kenneth E. Thorpe, a professor of health policy at Emory University in Atlanta. “But we will have to do a major public education campaign to get people to take advantage of these clinical preventive services.”
The rules stipulate that no co-payments can be charged for tests and screenings recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of scientific experts. The rules apply to new health plans that begin coverage after Sept. 23 and to existing health plans that make significant changes after that date. The administration said the requirements could increase premiums by 1.5 percent, on average.
Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said the rules would extend benefits to 31 million people in new employer-sponsored plans and 10 million people in new individual plans next year.
In many cases, insurers will be allowed to charge for goods and services needed to treat a condition detected in a screening. For example, consumers can receive free screenings for depression and high cholesterol, but they might be charged co-payments for antidepressants and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
In some cases, the task force has specified how frequently a service, like colonoscopy, should be performed. If the guidelines are silent, the rules say, an insurer may use “reasonable medical management techniques to determine the frequency” of services.
The administration is working on a supplemental list of free preventive services for women.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America says insurance plans should be required to cover contraceptives without co-payments.
“For women, what could be more basic preventive care than birth control?” asked Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood.
Other services that must be provided without charge include genetic counseling for certain women with a family history of breast cancer, counseling to promote breast-feeding by new mothers and screening for osteoporosis in older women.
Ms. Sebelius said that 100,000 deaths could be averted each year if doctors and patients effectively used five services: colorectal and breast cancer screening, flu vaccines and counseling on smoking cessation and on aspirin therapy to prevent heart disease.
http://rxroundtable.org/2010/07/15/health-plans-must-provide-some-tests-at-no-cost/
Quality Indicators for Colonoscopy
Excellent starting point for studies, this website is full of Guidelines. Here is the page that covers colonoscopy :
http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=9299&nbr=4969&ss=6&xl=999
The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) is a comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related documents. NGC is an initiative of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NGC was originally created by AHRQ in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans (now America's Health Insurance Plans [AHIP]).
The NGC mission is to provide physicians, nurses, and other health professionals, health care providers, health plans, integrated delivery systems, purchasers and others an accessible mechanism for obtaining objective, detailed information on clinical practice guidelines and to further their dissemination, implementation and use.
http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=9299&nbr=4969&ss=6&xl=999
The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) is a comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related documents. NGC is an initiative of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NGC was originally created by AHRQ in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans (now America's Health Insurance Plans [AHIP]).
The NGC mission is to provide physicians, nurses, and other health professionals, health care providers, health plans, integrated delivery systems, purchasers and others an accessible mechanism for obtaining objective, detailed information on clinical practice guidelines and to further their dissemination, implementation and use.
Avastin in Her2 Neg Breast Cancer Fails to Show Promise
Interesting article that showcases clinical trials using Avastin in Her2 Neu negative breast cancer. The results of these trials failed to show signficant benefit.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/BreastCancer/21276
(Thanks Judy!)
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/BreastCancer/21276
(Thanks Judy!)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Lung Cancer
Underfunding of lung cancer comes from the stigma that all cases are caused by smoking.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/health/13brod.html?ref=health
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/health/13brod.html?ref=health
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Lymphoma
Here is a pdf file that covers lymphoma, complete with table that lists lymph node areas and a diagram illustrating where to find lymph nodes in the body:
https://crawb.crab.org/txwb/CRA_MANUAL/Vol1/chapter%2016c_Lymphoma%20Forms.pdf
https://crawb.crab.org/txwb/CRA_MANUAL/Vol1/chapter%2016c_Lymphoma%20Forms.pdf
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Brain Tumors
From the American Brain Tumor Association, here is an educational booklet for better understanding of tumor affecting the brain :
http://www.abta.org/siteFiles/SitePages/E2E7B6E1D9BBEAD2103BCB9F2C80D588.pdf
http://www.abta.org/siteFiles/SitePages/E2E7B6E1D9BBEAD2103BCB9F2C80D588.pdf
Vital Signs
CDC Releases Vital Signs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report this week, Vital Signs , tracking the progress of breast and colorectal cancer screening in the United States. The CDC estimates that at least 10,000 lives could be saved each year if more people got screened. The Affordable Care Act will greatly improve screening rates by improving access to insurance coverage and removing cost barriers to screening. The report provides solid evidence that improvements in screening rates could yield dramatic results: 1,900 colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented each year for every 10% increase in colonoscopy screenings, while 560 deaths from breast cancer could be prevented for every 5% increase in mammogram screenings.
The full report can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/. Liz Ward, the American Cancer Society’s vice president of surveillance and health policy research, is quoted in the Associated Press story on the report: Colon Cancer Screenings Up, Breast Rate Stalled.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report this week, Vital Signs , tracking the progress of breast and colorectal cancer screening in the United States. The CDC estimates that at least 10,000 lives could be saved each year if more people got screened. The Affordable Care Act will greatly improve screening rates by improving access to insurance coverage and removing cost barriers to screening. The report provides solid evidence that improvements in screening rates could yield dramatic results: 1,900 colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented each year for every 10% increase in colonoscopy screenings, while 560 deaths from breast cancer could be prevented for every 5% increase in mammogram screenings.
The full report can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/. Liz Ward, the American Cancer Society’s vice president of surveillance and health policy research, is quoted in the Associated Press story on the report: Colon Cancer Screenings Up, Breast Rate Stalled.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Human Atlas Videos
Great website with videos on cancer (and other disease) including treatment modalities like this one:
http://www.medbroadcast.com/channel_humanatlas_info_details.asp?video_id=135&channel_id=2055&relation_id=68852
http://www.medbroadcast.com/channel_humanatlas_info_details.asp?video_id=135&channel_id=2055&relation_id=68852
Friday, July 9, 2010
Finding County information
If you need to find out a county in the US, here is a helpful website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_counties_in_Ohio
For additional states, just change the state name at the end of web address.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_counties_in_Ohio
For additional states, just change the state name at the end of web address.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
MedScape Article Unknown Primary and symptoms at the site of metastatic disease
Patients have early dissemination of their cancer without symptoms at the primary site. The symptoms are often at the site of metastases.
•Ascites should lead one to evaluate for a GI or an ovarian primary.
•An axillary mass in a female should make the clinician check for breast cancer.
•A cervical node should lead to a thorough ENT examination.
•A brain metastasis should lead to a search for a lung, breast, or kidney primary.
•Bone metastasis should lead to evaluation for prostate, breast, lung, renal, or thyroid primary.
•A testicular mass should lead to measurement of tumor markers such as beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/280505-overview
•Ascites should lead one to evaluate for a GI or an ovarian primary.
•An axillary mass in a female should make the clinician check for breast cancer.
•A cervical node should lead to a thorough ENT examination.
•A brain metastasis should lead to a search for a lung, breast, or kidney primary.
•Bone metastasis should lead to evaluation for prostate, breast, lung, renal, or thyroid primary.
•A testicular mass should lead to measurement of tumor markers such as beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/280505-overview
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Lab Tests Online
If you are looking for an explanation of tumor markers or wonder what a specific test is for, this website will help.
http://www.labtestsonline.org/
http://www.labtestsonline.org/
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Website Directory
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Program of Cancer Data
www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr
American College of Surgeons (ACoS)
http://www.facs.org/
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
www.nci.nih.gov/
National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA)
http://www.ncra-usa.org/
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/
Cancer Quest
Teaches biology of cancer and cancer treatments
http://www.cancerquest.org/
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
www.iarc.fr/
SEER Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results
http://www.seer.cancer.org/
National Program of Cancer Data
www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr
American College of Surgeons (ACoS)
http://www.facs.org/
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
www.nci.nih.gov/
National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA)
http://www.ncra-usa.org/
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/
Cancer Quest
Teaches biology of cancer and cancer treatments
http://www.cancerquest.org/
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
www.iarc.fr/
SEER Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results
http://www.seer.cancer.org/
COMING SOON: The AJCC e-Staging Tool
From the CoC website:
The AJCC e-Staging Tool provides cancer registrars with an easy-to-use staging form and calculator.
From Springer and the American Joint Committee on Cancer:
Features
Contains all 57 Staging Forms for staging primary sites from the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 7th Edition
An elegant, simple user interface
Captures clinical and/or pathologic stage at any point in the patient workup
Includes an interactive introduction to the principles and practice of cancer staging
Available for three concurrent users at your facility, at one low subscription price
Benefits
Provides an easy-to-use workflow interface for cancer staging
The quickest, most accessible method for compliance with Commission on Cancer requirements for cancer staging
Staging forms can be shared among members of the patient management team and saved in tandem with electronic and print patient records
Generates HL7 code that can be saved to the user's computer and imported directly into an Electronic Health Records system
Availability
The AJCC e-Staging Tool will be available in an individual version that can support three concurrent users, for the low cost of $49.95.
Launch Date
Keep checking the http://www.cancerstaging.net/ for more information about the launch date of the AJCC e-Staging Tool, as well as information on how to subscribe!
The AJCC e-Staging Tool provides cancer registrars with an easy-to-use staging form and calculator.
From Springer and the American Joint Committee on Cancer:
Features
Contains all 57 Staging Forms for staging primary sites from the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 7th Edition
An elegant, simple user interface
Captures clinical and/or pathologic stage at any point in the patient workup
Includes an interactive introduction to the principles and practice of cancer staging
Available for three concurrent users at your facility, at one low subscription price
Benefits
Provides an easy-to-use workflow interface for cancer staging
The quickest, most accessible method for compliance with Commission on Cancer requirements for cancer staging
Staging forms can be shared among members of the patient management team and saved in tandem with electronic and print patient records
Generates HL7 code that can be saved to the user's computer and imported directly into an Electronic Health Records system
Availability
The AJCC e-Staging Tool will be available in an individual version that can support three concurrent users, for the low cost of $49.95.
Launch Date
Keep checking the http://www.cancerstaging.net/ for more information about the launch date of the AJCC e-Staging Tool, as well as information on how to subscribe!
Regional Lymph Node Identification
The following link is a great resource for any registrar who has difficulty identifying regional lymph node stations when abstracting.
http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/4646f1278c26f
Thanks Theresa!
http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/4646f1278c26f
Thanks Theresa!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Timeline of Cancer
Take a walk through history with this timeline that shows the history of cancer. From the mummies of Egypt to the development of the first cancer vaccine:
http://www.cancerquest.org/images/HistoryOfCancer/HistoryofCancer.swf
http://www.cancerquest.org/images/HistoryOfCancer/HistoryofCancer.swf
Friday, July 2, 2010
Chemo Drug List
For a list of chemo drug classifications and the cancers they treat visit:
http://www.guide2chemo.com/sites/all/themes/test/tools/drug.pdf
Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer
New developments in radiation treatment for breast cancer.
From the website:
"Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with low-energy X-rays (30-50 KV) is an innovative technique that can be used both for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) and intraoperative boosting in patients affected by breast cancer. Immediately after tumor resection the tumor bed can be treated with low-distance X-rays by a single high dose. Whereas often a geographic miss in covering the boost target occurs with external beam boost radiotherapy (EBRT), the purpose of IORT is to cover the tumor bed safely."
Read more on this at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16277101
From the website:
"Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with low-energy X-rays (30-50 KV) is an innovative technique that can be used both for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) and intraoperative boosting in patients affected by breast cancer. Immediately after tumor resection the tumor bed can be treated with low-distance X-rays by a single high dose. Whereas often a geographic miss in covering the boost target occurs with external beam boost radiotherapy (EBRT), the purpose of IORT is to cover the tumor bed safely."
Read more on this at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16277101
NCDB Call for Data Changes 2011
Find the latest information on NCDB call for data scheduling:
http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/acscoc/issues/2010-06-30/4.html
http://www.facs.org/cancer/ncdb/registrars.html
http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/acscoc/issues/2010-06-30/4.html
http://www.facs.org/cancer/ncdb/registrars.html
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