Dr Azrif

05/08/2023

CALGB/SWOG 80702 was a trial that looked at 3 Vs 6 months chemotherapy in stage colorectal cancer. The investigators also looked at intensity and duration of physical activity after completing chemo. In summary, patients with stage 3 colorectal cancer should aim for 3 hours of brisk walking a week as it reduces the risk of cancer recurrence significantly. Time to get up and walk 😁

Among patients with stage III colon cancer enrolled in a trial of postoperative treatment, larger volumes of recreational physical activity, longer durations of light- to moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or any vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity were associated with the greate...

28/06/2023

Invited to talk about metastastic breast cancer on Sunday. First time I wore a headset with microphone instead of using a handheld microphone. Problem is I didn't know what to do with my left hand so decided to put it in my left trouser pocket during most of my talk.
Good meeting, nice to meet friends again.

08/06/2023

It's ok to stop immunotherapy after two years in stage 4 lung cancer.

In stage 4 lung cancer, we normally give immunotherapy for two years then stop and monitor the patient for disease relapse but there is an ongoing debate as to whether we should continue the treatment for longer than two years.

In a study published in the June 2023 JAMA Oncology journal, a group of doctors from Univ of Pennsylvania looked at patients wtih stage 4 lung cancer who continued immunotherapy beyond 2 years vs those who stopped at two years of treatment and found no significant difference in survival two years later.

Reference: JAMA Oncol. Published online June 4, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.1891

01/05/2023

What is ultra-processed food?

A Heart & Stroke dietitian explains how to eat healthier by identifying and avoiding ultra-processed foods.

01/05/2023

Ultra- processed foods increase our risk of cancer according to a large study funded by the World Cancer Research Fund.

https://www.wcrf.org/latest/news-and-updates/ultra-processed-food-increases-cancer-rates-new-research-shows/

29/04/2023

More evidence supporting adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy before surgery for stage 2 and 3 lung cancer
The interim results of the AEGEAN clinical trial were presented two weeks ago at the American Association for Cancer Research conference.
Adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy leads to a one third reduction in the risk of cancer progression .

Patients treated with the durvalumab-based regimen before and after surgery in the AEGEAN trial had a 32% reduction in the risk of disease recurrence or progression events ORLANDO, Fla. – Patients with treatment-naïve resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received neoadjuvant durvalum...

02/04/2023

Many people have incorrect ideas about cancer and its causes. This Mayo Clinic website that explains how these ideas are based on incomplete information or misinterpretation.

Get the facts and find out why these popular myths about cancer causes are wrong.

14/03/2023

Was honoured to participate in the Astra Zeneca Multidisciplinary Round Table Discussion for breast cancer last Sunday morning as the chairperson. Breast surgeons and genetic counselors gathered from around Malaysia to hear Prof Aishah from UMMC and Dr Karen Gelmon from Canada present on multidisciplinary management and adjuvant olaparib for BRCA1/2 mutated breast cancer. Thank you to Astra Zeneca, both speakers and the participants for taking part.

30/01/2023

Special day today. First patient treated in a lung cancer clinical trial (PALOMA-3) at Prince Court Medical Centre. The patient was screened 2 weeks ago, randomised yesterday and had first day cycle one today. This is our cancer clinical research team: Tan Woan Lee (study coordinator), Rahimah Binti Rajab and myself.

24/01/2023

Many people nowadays complain of difficulty sleeping. Here is a link to a short video with tips to improve sleep

Want to not only fall asleep quickly but also stay asleep longer? Sleep scientist Matt Walker explains how your room temperature, lighting and other easy-to-...

24/01/2023

New targeted therapy, futibatinib, for bile duct cancer. Results of a phase 2 clinical trial published in New England Journal of Medicine recently. In a study of 103 patients with FGFR2 altered bile duct cancers whose cancer worsened after chemotherapy, 42% had a response which lasted a median of nearly 10 months.

Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine — Futibatinib for FGFR2-Rearranged Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma