Cancer Advisor

Quick Summary (TL;DR) The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released an updated guideline on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing (often called a liquid biopsy ) for patients with solid tumors and lymphoma. This simple blood test can detect cancer DNA to help guide treatment. The guidelines recommend ctDNA testing when standard tissue biopsies are too risky, when quick decisions are required, or when a targeted drug demands it. However, because liquid biopsies can miss some mutations, a negative blood test should always be confirmed with a traditional tissue biopsy. Cancer care is rapidly shifting away from one-size-fits-all treatments toward highly personalized medicine. At the forefront of this revolution is a revolutionary blood test known as a liquid biopsy . To clear up confusion and set a gold standard for care, a multidisciplinary expert panel—which intentionally included dedicat...

Quick Summary: The Patient Blueprint The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) provides an authoritative guide to help patients understand pancreatic cancer care . Treatment decisions hinge primarily on resectability —whether the tumor can be cleanly removed by surgery. While surgery offers the best chance for long-term survival, optimal care almost always combines surgery with systemic treatments like chemotherapy and robust supportive care to manage weight loss, digestion, and pain. Receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming and fast-moving. To help you regain control, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) publishes standard-of-care updates specifically translated for patients and families. The pancreas is a dual-purpose organ: it produces digestive enzymes to break down food and releases hormones like insulin to regulate your blood sugar. When exocrine ...

Quick Summary & Core Update The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released its updated 2026 Living Guideline for Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Without Driver Alterations . The major takeaway is the addition of retifanlimab-dlwr (an immunotherapy drug sold under the brand name ZYNYZ )  combined with standard chemotherapy as a highly effective first-line treatment option. Clinical trial data shows that adding this drug significantly extends survival and stalls cancer growth compared to chemotherapy alone. When dealing with a diagnosis of Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) , timing and precision are everything. Because lung cancer research moves incredibly fast, medical organizations utilize what are known as "Living Guidelines" —clinical roadmaps that experts update continuously as soon as groundbreaking clinical trial data breaks. The latest version,...

Optimized for Medical Professionals and Patient Advocates | Last Updated: June 2026 Looking for the latest prostate cancer screening guidelines? This comprehensive guide merges and updates the latest protocols from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the European Association of Urology (EAU). Discover risk-stratified PSA test age milestones, the revolutionary "MRI-first" diagnostic pathway, and modern clinical consensus to maximize early detection while minimizing over-treatment. Table of Contents 1. The Shift in Prostate Cancer Screening Paradigms 2. NCCN vs. EAU Risk-Stratified Screening Matrix 3. The Modern 3-Step Diagnostic Pathway (MRI-First) 4. Post-Biopsy Risk Classification & Active Surveillance 5. Shared Decision-Making (SDM) Checklist for Patients 6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ...