A new study finds that sexual side effects of cancer treatment are discussed far less frequently with female patients than with male patients, even when the treatment directly affects sex organs.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today the 10 studies that will be highlighted in the 2022 ASTRO Annual Meeting press program. Researchers will discuss their findings in two news briefings to be held October 24 and 25 in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio and via live webcast. Reporters can register for the meeting at astro.org/annualmeetingpress.
On behalf of the nation's radiation oncologists and the more than one million people with cancer they will treat this year, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) applauded today's House passage of bipartisan federal legislation that would rein in restrictive prior authorization practices that delay patient access to critical cancer treatments.
A new clinical guideline from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) provides recommendations on the use of radiation therapy to treat patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant grade 2 and grade 3 diffuse glioma. Evidence-based recommendations outline the multidisciplinary planning and delivery techniques to manage this subset of central nervous system (CNS) tumors.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) today expressed its support for President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s intended appointment of Monica Bertagnolli, MD, as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), with the following statement from Laura A. Dawson, MD, FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors.
The members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) elected seven leading radiation oncologists to ASTRO’s Board of Directors, including Howard Sandler, MD, FASTRO, as President-elect. The officers will begin their terms in October during ASTRO’s 64th Annual Meeting in San Antonio.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) selected 27 distinguished members to receive the ASTRO Fellow (FASTRO) designation. The 2022 Fellows will be recognized at an awards ceremony during ASTRO’s 64th Annual Meeting this fall.
Registration is now open for the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) 64th Annual Meeting, to be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, October 23-26, 2022. Media registration is available at www.astro.org/astro2022press, and general registration is available at www.astro.org/annualmeeting.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology delivered comments to CMS following a proposed indefinite delay for the radiation oncology APM. Recommendations outline actionable steps to stabilize Medicare reimbursement, prioritize health equity, reduce unnecessary administrative burden and improve cancer outcomes.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recently hired Chris Neumann as its new Vice President of Learning and Education, and Kirsta Suggs as its first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
Radiation oncologists will meet with congressional leaders and staff today to ask for their support of policies to bolster access and equity in cancer care. Today’s American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Advocacy Day is the first to be held in-person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new clinical guideline from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) provides guidance on the use of radiation therapy to treat patients with brain metastases from non-hematologic solid tumors. The guideline, which updates ASTRO’s original 2012 guideline to reflect recent research developments, is published in Practical Radiation Oncology.
American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) response to the CMS decision to delay the start of the Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model (RO Model)
A large, multi-institutional study demonstrates that a blood test to detect circulating tumor DNA can accurately predict recurrence of HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer following treatment. Findings will be presented at the 2022 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium.
A new phase II trial finds that PET scans obtained before and midway through treatment for p16+ oropharynx cancer can guide de-escalated chemoradiotherapy, resulting in fewer short-term side effects. Findings will be presented today at the 2022 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium.
A multi-method artificial intelligence (AI) model accurately detects and stages thyroid cancer through analysis of routine ultrasound images, presenting a low-cost, non-invasive option for personalized treatment. Findings will be presented at the 2022 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued a statement from ASTRO Board of Directors Chair Laura A. Dawson, MD, FASTRO, in response to today's announcement that President Joe Biden will reignite the Cancer Moonshot initiative to accelerate the rate of progress in the nation's fight against cancer.
American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) response to the Supporting Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act, which includes a provision to delay the start of the Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model (RO Model): "While we are grateful for the delay, our focus remains on the reforms needed for the model to be successful. ... This delay creates a critical window of opportunity for Congress to address the RO Model’s flaws."
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued the following statement today in response to the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) final rules announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The time required to secure prior authorization approvals for radiation therapy treatments equates to a financial impact of more than $40 million annually for academic medical centers, according to a new study. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
A new study shows that system-level changes to the way cancer care is delivered can also eliminate Black-white disparities in survival from early-stage lung and breast cancer. By identifying and addressing obstacles that kept patients from finishing radiation treatments for cancer, the intervention improved five-year survival rates for all patients and erased the survival gap between Black and white patients. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
A new meta-analysis finds that a genetic biomarker test accurately predicts how men with high-risk prostate cancer will respond to treatment with radiation and hormone therapy. The study, which examined biopsy samples collected from three large, randomized clinical trials, indicates that physicians potentially can use genetic test scores to personalize treatment for men with the most aggressive form of prostate cancer. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
Using fewer—but higher—doses of radiation to treat men with prostate cancer who had their prostates removed does not increase long-term side effects or lower their quality of life compared to conventional radiation treatment, a new, multi-institutional clinical trial shows.
High-dose radiation therapy can be used to lengthen progression-free survival for people with advanced lung cancer when systemic therapy has not fully halted the growth or spread of metastases, according to a new study. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
People with liver cancer awaiting transplantation could benefit from non-invasive radiation treatments but are rarely given this therapy, according to a new analysis of U.S. national data. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
Eighty-five members of Congress have joined together to issue bipartisan, bicameral oversight letters that call on CMS to scale back severe cuts to radiation therapy reimbursement. Without action from CMS, radiation oncology will face estimated cuts of $300 million starting January 1, 2022, jeopardizing patient access to care.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) expressed strong support for today's Senate introduction of bipartisan federal legislation that would rein in restrictive prior authorization practices that delay patient access to critical cancer treatments.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) will recognize the recipients of its 2021 Gold Medal awards and other high-profile honors at the 63rd ASTRO Annual Meeting, to be held October 24-27 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced the press program for the 2021 ASTRO Annual Meeting. Researchers will discuss their findings in three news briefings on October 25 and 26 in Chicago and via live webcast. Reporters can register for press access at www.astro.org/annualmeetingpress.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) submitted two comment letters to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today urging the agency to reconsider policy changes that will result in $300 million in Medicare cuts for radiation therapy services starting January 1, 2022.
A new clinical guideline from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) provides guidance on radiation therapy for soft tissue sarcoma. Recommendations outline optimal radiation dosing, techniques and treatment planning, with a focus on preserving long-term functionality through individualized care.
A record number of radiation oncologists met with Congressional leaders and staff last week as part of the largest American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Advocacy Day in the Society's history. The physicians urged Congressional leaders to intervene in response to consecutive Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposals that call for significant cuts to radiation oncology facilities.
The members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) elected three new officers to ASTRO’s Board of Directors, including Jeff M. Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO, as President-elect, Catheryn Yashar, MD, FASTRO, as Health Policy Council Vice Chair and John Buatti, MD, FASTRO, as Science Council Vice Chair.
In response to consecutive weeks of significant proposed Medicare payment cuts to radiation oncology cancer care, Thomas J. Eichler, MD, Chair of American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), issued the following statement.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) selected 28 distinguished members to receive the ASTRO Fellow (FASTRO) designation. The 2021 class of Fellows will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Chicago on October 26 during ASTRO’s 63rd Annual Meeting.
Registration opens today for the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) 63rd Annual Meeting, which will return to an in-person conference at McCormick Place West in Chicago, October 24-27, 2021. Media resources and registration are available at www.astro.org/astro2021press, and general registration is available at www.astro.org/annualmeeting.
Doctors who oversee cancer clinics say that new patients are arriving for treatment with more advanced disease than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). The survey fielded in early 2021 also found that treatment postponements and deferrals have largely subsided.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) today expressed its support for President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s nomination of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the appointment of Elizabeth Fowler as director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).
Congress passed legislation supported by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) that will delay the start of the Radiation Oncology Advanced Payment Model (RO Model) until Jan. 1, 2022, while bipartisan U.S. representatives sent an oversight letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) this week calling for changes to the flawed RO Model. In the letter led by Representatives Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) and Mike Kelly (R-Penn.), 16 representatives urged CMS Administrator Seema Verma to protect cancer patients’ access to life-saving radiation treatments by scaling back deep reimbursement cuts for the nearly 1,000 radiation oncology providers required to participate in the model.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today that Sue S. Yom, MD, PhD, FASTRO, will become the new editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (Red Journal), ASTRO's flagship scientific journal. Dr. Yom will begin her five-year term on January 1, 2022.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) today expressed its support for President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s nomination of Xavier Becerra as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Radiation oncologists across the country will meet virtually with members of Congress this week to urge lawmakers to pass legislation that will safeguard access to high-quality, value-based health care for people with cancer. The doctors will meet with Congressional leaders and staff as part of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) virtual Advocacy Day, which will take place November 19-20, 2020.
A new study points to a need for oncologists to ask their patients about sexual health after chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer treatments. In a survey of nearly 400 cancer survivors, 87% said they experienced sexual side effects, but most also said their oncologist had not formally asked about them. Female patients were especially unlikely to be asked about sexual dysfunction. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
The number of radiation therapy facilities in the United States has grown by 17% over the last 15 years, according to a new study presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting. This growth has disproportionately favored urban areas already dense in treatment centers, however; roughly 5% of the U.S. population remains more than 50 miles from the closest facility.
A new study finds that the racial composition of clinical trials involving radiation therapy does not match that of the U.S. population. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
A phase III trial from India shows that an advanced radiation therapy technique leads to fewer gastrointestinal side effects in women who receive radiation after undergoing hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Findings from the PARCER trial (NCT01279135) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
A new study, conducted across 13 medical centers in Australia and New Zealand, strengthens the case for radiation therapy as a treatment for cancer that has begun to spread throughout the body. Findings of the SAFRON II trial (NCT01965223) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
Results of a new randomized phase III trial suggest that stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) should replace whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) as the standard of care for patients with four or more brain metastases. Results from the clinical trial (NCT01592968) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
A new study shows using fewer and higher doses of high-precision radiation therapy is a more effective approach for treating painful spinal tumors than conventional radiation therapy. Findings from the Canadian phase II/III trial (NCT02512965) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.