worth reading: Lessons for journalists & the public about medical conference news

 Blogger's Note: this is worth reading mostly in particular to the reading of published abstracts and the ultimate findings/abstract accuracy

 

Lessons for journalists & the public about medical conference news

Journal Gynecologic Oncology, Volume 120, Supplement 1, Pages S1-S150 (March 2011) abstracts to be presented at 2011 annual SGO meeting

Note: this journal is by subscription ($$$) for full access, the actual abstracts via this indexed list are not available - titles of presentations only - abstracts either have been previously published or to come


Volume 120, Supplement 1, Pages S1-S150 (March 2011)

ABSTRACTS PRESENTED FOR THE 42ND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGISTS
Orlando, FL USA
March 2011

A prime example of the problem with some TV physician-"journalists" - Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog (ASCO/ovarian cancer/Avastin) + my response

Note: my response:

"In our own ovarian cancer patient communities and over the long term, as survivours/family caregivers, many of us have learned to question media articles and abstracts. The SGO published a statement regarding the GOG 218 study shortly after the media events. 

In addition, on June 5th in Chicago on a separate ovarian cancer seminar the issue of the new finding of GOG 218 were discussed. The over-riding bottom line is that Avastin is not the panacea for all that ails ovarian cancer women and should be used very selectively. On which patients is of primary interest (obviously).

The issue at stake for ovarian cancer women is that no new treatments in the past 2 decades have shown any improvements over the standard and current first line therapy of Taxol and Carboplatin. 

No matter how bad it gets (QOL) and it does get very 'bad', ovarian cancer women want to live and will suffer much to do so. We need to understand this mindset while at the same time considering first most patient safety and always acknowledging the 'hype'. 

There is a duty for all those who care for ovarian cancer women to be informed.
Twitter, blogs, facebook and social media help also to educate patients on these issues - we hope."

reminder: link to Abstracts 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting

Abstracts 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting

search terms: "ovarian cancer' (note some duplication/non relevance) The abstracts can be search a variety of ways: eg. gynecologic cancer, brca, etc...