The number of cancer rehabilitation programs in Australia has more than doubled in the past decade, but availability remains limited, with many survivors struggling to get the support they need, according to researchers at La Trobe University. 

Results of the NRG Oncology NRG-GU005 clinical study comparing stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to moderately hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (MH-IMRT) for patients with localized immediate risk prostate cancer indicate that the use of SBRT improved bowel health related quality of life (HRQOL) in this patient population. There was no significant improvement seen for the other primary objectives including urinary HRQOL and there was a lack of improvement in distant-free survival for patients.

The largest study of its kind has found menopause is not associated with an increased risk of disability in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Until now, the impact of reduced sex hormones on women with MS had only been the subject of small studies, some with conflicting results.

 

Patients weighing 450 pounds or more face barriers and discrimination when scheduling or attending doctor visits at subspecialty practices, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. Of the 300 clinics surveyed in the study, 52% lacked basic standards of care and 41% declined to schedule an appointment. Otolaryngologists were the least likely to schedule a visit with the patient (only 48.3% scheduled visits, compared to 59% overall). 

Only 117 practices (39%) were fully accessible, the study found, with endocrinology practices being the most willing to schedule and most likely to meet basic standards of care.

An additional 16% of practices in the study that were willing to schedule the patient had a sub-standard plan of care that involved workarounds for accessibility limitations, such as telling the patient they could come to the clinic but would need to stand during the exam, or they would have to drape themselves with a sheet because they did not have gowns to fit them.