×

Archive for October, 2018

Don’t Ignore that Itch!

The fact that itch may be associated with internal malignancy has previously been suspected. A recent study looked back at over 16,000 adult patient seen at the Johns Hopkins Health System from 2013-2017. They compared those with itch vs those without. Patients with pruritus (itch) were significantly more likely to have concomitant malignancy than those […]

Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Cancer gets its own drug!

The use of “check point inhibitors” has revolutionized the approach to many advanced malignancies such as advanced melanoma. In fact this years Nobel prize was awarded to scientist who first developed this class of drugs. These drugs work by allowing the immune-system to see the cancer cells and so initiate an attack against this otherwise […]

Helping the patients own immune-system fight cancer

cancer cell graphic

Cancer cells, particularly melanoma can be very skillful at avoiding recognition and attack by the bodies defenses. Novel immunotherapy with checkpoint blockade can help the patients’ immune system recognize and attack previously hidden cancer cells. A recent retrospective study demonstrates a significant improvement in 4 year overall survival in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma after […]

Contact Dr. Massey