Assistant Professor of Medicine @UVMLarnerMed|Hematologist-Oncologist| proud husband @myriam_salameh |@liverpoolfc fan| sports crossfit coffee enthusiast
Time for some bling, and💰💰! Congratulations to @Mansourgergi, the new @uvmvermont Green & Gold Early Career Professor of our Dept of Medicine! He is studying hospital acquired bleeding in cancer patients, a critical topic.
@UVMLarnerMed@UVMcancercenter
Another great #ASH2023, but as tradition dictates, here is a pic of the paper waste sent to my room. @ASH_hematology - time to stop this wasteful practice.
Cancer drug shortages have led to “gut-wrenching options, delays in treatment and potentially bleaker futures” for patients. Great article on human impact and difficult choices by @By_CJewett via @nytimes https://t.co/AVddCHQW6P
Take 🏡 points:
🔹Germline genetic testing with a “Test first, counsel later” approach is feasible with high patient and provider satisfaction in cancer patients.
🔹Next steps: implementation in a broader, multi-site center.
8/ Cost of myeloma drugs: Bortezomib SQ generic is now available in the US at a fraction of the price of brand name Velcade. Only $200 a dose. Use the generic. Not the brand name.
5/ Post transplant maintenance: Cassiopeia trial shows no added benefit of daratumumab maintenance in patients who got daratumumab as part of induction. Given this result, the cost, and the risk of toxicity, I don’t recommend adding Dara for maintenance. Need more data.
4/ Autologous stem cell transplant: Transplant remains important for all eligible patients. But the DETERMINATION trial results confirm that the timing of transplant (frontline versus at relapse) has similar overall survival. Patient choice will be an important factor.