The main announcements took place on Sunday June 4 in this congress which is a benchmark. The most remarkable study concerns in particular a treatment against lung cancer.
It is a presentation which was very applauded on Sunday June 4 by the thousands of oncologists present at the annual Chicago Cancer Congress, which is a reference. It concerns patients with lung cancer treated when the disease is not yet advanced, and whose tumor carries the EGFR mutation. In France, this represents approximately 1,500 to 2,000 new patients per year.
>> “No need for a wig”: for cancer patients, the cooling helmet helps limit hair loss
After surgery, doctors tested a targeted therapy, namely one tablet to be taken every day for three years. Previous research had already shown good results. This is why many patients are already benefiting from it in France. Today, these results are confirmed, and even excellent since this targeted therapy reduces mortality by 50%. Clearly, this will save around 300 to 400 patients each year in France, and even cure them, according to Doctor David Planchard, of the Gustave Roussy anticancer institute in Villejuif, who participated in this study. Cure, because the word is no longer taboo in cancer.
Improving the quality of life of patients
Another theme of the Cancer Congress this year is the relationship between patient and doctor. In effect, treating, curing with medicine, that’s good. But we must also support the sick. This edition of the Congress has therefore been the subject of many presentations explaining how to talk to an anxious, anxious patient, how to reassure him about his diagnosis, about the risks of relapse, how to identify loneliness. Some also relate to improving the quality of life of patients.
For example: these cooling helmets that prevent hair loss due to chemotherapy. New results have been announced: by cooling these helmets even further, they become more efficient. Finally, French research was once again hailed this year at the Chicago congress. French oncologists have presented dozens of clinical trial results: this is good news for their patients, because with doctors at the forefront of research, they often have the chance to be among the first to benefit from therapeutic innovations.