Dear readers, Just having returned from a particularly exhilarating annual ASCO meeting, I wanted to quickly share some of the most exciting results from the sarcoma sessions with all of you. Overall, this year revealed exciting advances in treatment of desmoid tumors, as well as PVNS. Additionally, we learned some important information about oral chemotherapy … More ASCO 2018 Updates for Sarcomas
Good afternoon readers! Having recently teamed up with the National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation as an advisory board member, for this posting I thought we’d focus on leiomyosarcoma, including some of the most common questions coming in from patients, caretakers and providers. What is leiomyosarcoma? Leiomyosarcoma is probably the fourth most common sarcoma behind gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), pleomorphic sarcomas, and liposarcomas. … More Leiomyosarcoma in 2018 – where we are and where we need to go.
Greetings, and humble apologies for the hiatus of this blog – have not forgotten about all of you, but it’s been a crazy year in the world of sarcomas. I’m so excited to share with you some of the highlights of ASCO, where nearly 40,000 medical oncologists and other cancer research aficionados gather yearly to present … More Updates from ASCO 2017 Annual Meeting
Sarcoma Awareness Month may be over, but for patients, families, and docs fighting sarcoma awareness is a daily occurrence! Thus… we have TWO upcoming events planned here at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center for patient awareness and education. Friday, September 23, 2016 – SCCC / Manny Alvarez Foundation Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma Day of Learning / Research Workshop. … More ASPS and Sarcoma Days of Learning
Sarcoma Awareness Day with the Miami Marlins, July 2015 Today marks the beginning of sarcoma awareness month – in addition to donning all your yellow attire, you can kick it off by signing this petition to make it official by the White House – https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/designate-july-sarcoma-awareness-month (header credit – ericddavisfoundation.org)
It’s official – we’re moving forward with the first ever ASPS Day of Learning. Come and help us take a giant step forward against this disease at this free event, which will run approximately 8 am – 4 pm on Friday, September 23, 2016. If you’d like to come, please email Krystin Altieri at k.altieri@med.miami.edu to … More Save the Date: Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma Research Workshop / Patient Day of Learning
Greetings from Chicago, where once again, immunotherapy remains the highlight of most ASCO presentations. This year was particularly exciting, as we finally got to see the preliminary results of the first clinical trials of checkpoint inhibitors for sarcomas. So, I will update all of you on the most recent data, explain how we still have more … More Updates from ASCO 2016: Immunotherapy for sarcoma shows a signal!
Last week, after one year and about 4 months of work, I consented my first patient for my clinical trial of combination axitinib and pembrolizumab for alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) and other soft tissue sarcomas. Since this trial hit clinical trials.gov, I’ve had more patients come out of the woodwork with ASPS then I could have … More The one that really has to go… ASPS.
Do you guys remember ever seeing that movie, Pay it Forward? It has the scary kid from The Sixth Sense in it – along with Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt. I am dating myself because I realized that both of those movies are now from the year 2000… ok… I’m old. Regardless the concept is … More paying it forward…
A few weeks ago I met a patient who came to see me for treatment recommendations for a desmoid tumor in her hip. She is a healthy, 40 year old female who noticed that something was wrong after slowly developing more pain and discomfort during hiking and other physical activity a couple years ago. She had seen … More Updates on desmoid tumors
