Urs Voegeli’s Post

🚀 Colorectal cancer is changing and so must our approach to detection. 👉 Data from the #AmericanCancerSociety shows a steep rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses in the 45-49 age group in the U.S., with a 50 % relative increase in local-stage cases from 2021 to 2022. 👉 Meanwhile, review articles from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / JAMA emphasize that colorectal cancer is now the most common early-onset gastrointestinal cancer, yet fewer than 1 in 5 U.S. adults aged 45-49 were screened as of 2021, despite screening guidelines. ⚠️ These trends underscore a stark reality: many eligible individuals remain unscreened, leaving opportunities for earlier detection unfulfilled. 💉🤝 That's where Universal Diagnostics S.A. steps in. Our flagship test, Signal-C®, is a single-draw blood assay engineered to detect colorectal cancer (and advanced precancerous lesions) with high sensitivity and specificity. At UDX, we believe that early, accessible, non-invasive diagnostics will transform colorectal cancer outcomes. Our mission is to move cancer detection upstream, before symptoms, and make screening as seamless as a routine blood test. 💡What would it take to make colorectal cancer blood screening standard practice in primary care? 💡How do you think awareness of new, non-invasive cancer tests could change people's willingness to get screened? #ColorectalCancer #EarlyDetection #Diagnostics #LiquidBiopsy #UniversalDiagnostics #HealthTech

📣 What progress is being made in cancer research? The AACR Journals recently released their annual Cancer Progress report. It makes for interesting reading with some good news and some areas where work is still needed. 💡 The good news: Overall cancer mortality is decreasing. The report attributes this to reduced smoking rates and related declines in lung cancer mortality. The authors highlight that advances in early detection and risk prediction, as well as targeted treatments for lung cancer, have accelerated this progress. 🟠 Where more work is needed: There are still disparities across lung cancer care. Some areas are seeing an increase in lung cancer diagnoses, such as in "never-smokers" and in women. Despite progress, lung cancer is one of the 5 most frequently diagnosed cancers and accounts for the most cancer-related deaths. From 2020 to 2050, the global cumulative economic burden of cancer is projected to reach $25.2 trillion. And thoracic cancers, including lung cancer, are one of the largest contributors to this burden, with the US having one of the largest shares of this cost. We're pleased to read about the progress and are committed to continuing to improve lung health care. 🔗 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gXxi2jKs 🔗 See how we’re helping solve lung cancer: https://optellum.com/ #LungCancer #CancerResearch #EarlyDetection #LungHealth

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES — AND AWARENESS DRIVES ACTION During Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), Dr. Angela Pang, Senior Medical Oncologist at OncoCare Cancer Center, joined the 365 Cancer Prevention Society’s live broadcast to raise awareness about cancer prevention and early detection.   🔎 Key highlights: In most developed countries, including Singapore, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, surpassing colorectal and lung cancers. Early-stage detection leads to simpler, more effective treatments, while late detection often requires more complex and prolonged therapy. + Localized breast cancer: nearly 99% 5-year survival rate + Advanced breast cancer: only 29% + Early screening programs have reduced breast cancer mortality by up to 40%. Next-generation screening: MCED (Multi-Cancer Early Detection) Dr. Pang introduced blood-based MCED tests that analyze circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to detect early signals of 10 major cancer types (75 subtypes) — all from a single blood draw.   💗 October’s message – The Power of Awareness: “Be proactive, not fearful. Awareness empowers prevention.” Encouraging public participation and regular screening can help detect cancers earlier and improve survival outcomes.   👉 Let’s support each other — encourage your loved ones to take charge of their health and sign up for screening today.   👉  Watch the full live session here: https://lnkd.in/gzhFrYzP #MCED #EarlyDetection #CancerPrevention #BreastCancerAwareness #GeneSolutions  

🧬 QUEST Study – Quality of Life in Bladder Cancer 🧾 Beyond Survival: The QUEST to Understand Quality of Life in Bladder Cancer Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a life-threatening disease requiring aggressive treatment. Traditionally, radical cystectomy (RC) has been the standard, but bladder preservation therapy (TMT) is gaining traction. While oncologic outcomes may be comparable, the lived patient experience—particularly quality of life (QoL)—is often underexplored. The QUEST study protocol, now published in F1000Research, addresses this gap in the Indian context by prospectively comparing QoL and survival in MIBC patients who undergo either RC or TMT, using validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). 📊 Study design highlights: 👉 Prospective, single-center observational cohort (94 patients). 👉 Longitudinal assessment using Bladder Cancer Index (BCI) and EORTC QLQ-C30. 👉 Focus on both survival (OS, PFS) and patient-centric outcomes across urinary, bowel, and sexual domains. 👉 Real-world design allows patients to self-select treatment after multidisciplinary counseling. ⚖️ Why it matters: Most QoL evidence in bladder cancer comes from Western settings. By focusing on resource-constrained environments, QUEST captures socio-cultural factors shaping treatment choices. This is vital for tailoring care strategies and informing future guidelines in low- and middle-income countries. 💡 My perspective: This protocol highlights the evolving role of PROMs and real-world data in oncology—moving beyond survival endpoints to embrace patient experience. Such studies are critical in making cancer care truly patient-centered. The integration of QoL into routine evaluation should not be seen as optional but as a standard of evidence alongside traditional clinical outcomes. #BladderCancer #Oncology #PROMs #QualityOfLife #CancerResearch #RWE #PatientCentricCare #OverallSurvival #PFS Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and for educational purposes only. They do not represent the position of any employer or institution.

Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates across cancers, making it a critical area for innovation. We are working hard to contribute to the global effort to change this narrative. Our Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Edward Chow just visited Boston to present our latest data in pancreatic cancer at the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Research. "Feasibility study of an ex vivo functional precision medicine platform, OptimAI™, in guiding treatment for pancreatic cancer" (Abstract # B087). This study highlights how our OptimAI™ platform is a viable tool for providing rapid, actionable insights for one of the most challenging cancers: High Clinical Concordance: The platform demonstrated an 86% concordance rate by accurately predicting resistance to therapies that patients had previously received. Standard-of-Care Insights: OptimAI™ revealed differential sensitivities to standard-of-care treatments across patients, empowering clinicians with crucial data to personalize therapy beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. Patient Impact: The poster details a case study where OptimAI™-guided treatment led to a partial response in a heavily pretreated patient, demonstrating the potential to improve patient outcomes. This work is a crucial step forward in our mission to bridge the cancer care gap. #KYANTechnologies #OptimAI #FunctionalPrecisionMedicine #AACR Hugo Saavedra Lisa Chow Dean Ho Masturah Rashid Jhin Jieh Lim Sudha S. Asyiqin Isa Sharon Pei Yi Chan Michael Ching Boon Yan Teng Weng Tong Ho Catherine Lim Ernest Teh Rasha Kandil Phal Singh, MBA, CA Wee Joo Chng Steve Myint Andreas Voss Koen Kok Lion Grünenberg Richard Bold Sutipong Jongrak Valerie Yang, MB BChir, PhD Stephanie R. T.

🎥 New Episode Alert – Cancers 101: Lecture 13 🔬 Unraveling Cancer’s Molecular Blueprint: Polymicrobial Infections in Oncology Cancer doesn’t fight alone, and neither should we. In Lecture 13 of YouTube series Cancers 101, we dive into the chaotic world of polymicrobial infections in cancer patients, where weakened immunity and mucosal barrier breakdown - triggered by chemotherapy, radiation, or tumor invasion, open the floodgates for viruses, bacteria, and fungi to strike in tandem. 💡 This episode features a compelling case of a breast cancer patient battling Klebsiella and Aspergillus co-infections, underscoring the urgency of : 🧪 Rapid diagnostics 💊 Tailored antimicrobial strategies 🛡️ Proactive mucosal care We explore how multidisciplinary teams—oncologists, infectious disease specialists, microbiologists, and pharmacists—collaborate to outmaneuver these stealthy co-conspirators of cancer mortality. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, student, or simply curious about oncology’s infectious challenges, this lecture offers insights that matter. 📺 Watch now: https://lnkd.in/d37HsX7k #Oncology #CancerCare #InfectiousDiseases #MedicalEducation #Cancers101 #PolymicrobialInfections #BreastCancer #MultidisciplinaryCare #CancerOutreach

🎗 Breaking Barriers: Advancing Cancer Care through Access and Advocacy Last October 9, I had the privilege of being one of the panelists at the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology session on “Breaking Barriers: Advancing Cancer Care through Access and Advocacy.” Many of the discussions focused on Health Technology Assessment (HTA), but there are other equally important areas in improving cancer care: 1️⃣ Strengthen Early Detection and Diagnosis – Integrate this under PhilHealth’s Yakap Program. 2️⃣ Ensure Equitable Access to Treatment – Expand Z-Benefit Program access sites and strengthen the role of the National Integrated Cancer Control Program. 3️⃣ Empower Patients and Caregivers – Involve patients in policy discussions and clinical guideline development, with patient navigators and peer support systems embedded in care delivery. 4️⃣ Strengthen Health System Integration – Establish a unified patient ID and a national cancer registry for data-driven decisions. 5️⃣ Foster Innovation and Research – Promote clinical trials and develop a local cancer research network. Thank you, Dr. Frederic Ivan Ting, for the invitation to speak and for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation on advancing cancer care in the Philippines. 💙

For people living with #NSCLC, socio-demographics are a much better predictor of their levels of distress than whether their cancer is metastatic or not. Top support needs, regardless of metastatic status, as found by Cancer Support Community’s Erica Fortune and Abigail Newell, PhD are: * Coping with uncertainty, * Managing fatigue, and * Staying active When individualizing support without comprehensive distress screening, keep in mind that: * Emotional and relational support may be especially relevant for those with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer * Assistance with mobility/staying active and daily tasks may be more important for lowering distress in those with non-metastatic NSCLC. #ASCOQLTY25 #LungCancer #PsychosocialSupport

Hope Has a New Name — And It's Rising from the Shadows of Lung Cancer. For years, a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) felt like a door closing. Fast-moving. Relentless. Nearly invisible until it was almost too late. But what happens when science, courage, and timing align? You get stories like Wendy Brooks — a woman who, thanks to a routine low-dose CT scan and access to clinical trials, is rewriting what it means to live with SCLC. Her cancer was detected early — a rare stroke of fortune with this disease. But even more remarkable? She chose to step into the unknown by enrolling in not one, but two clinical trials. Wendy shared her story during a recent #mediatour for Lung Cancer Foundation of America. Today, she wakes up with purpose. With possibility. With a future. Behind her story are powerful innovations — from immunotherapy combinations to emerging treatments like BITE molecules, CAR T-cells, and antibody-drug conjugates. These aren’t just scientific milestones, they’re lifelines — and they’re no longer decades away. Many are available now, through expanding clinical trial access. And this is just the beginning of a new chapter for #SCLC. Wendy, alongside Dr. Jacob Sands, a leading thoracic oncologist, is helping bring visibility to this often-overlooked diagnosis — turning medical jargon into empowerment, and fear into hope. This isn’t just medicine. This is transformation. If you've never heard of small cell lung cancer, now’s the time. Awareness saves lives. Stories spark change.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium starts today! Cancer Support Community is presenting research that highlights how patients experience cancer care and what they need most. In collaboration with Gilead Sciences, Cancer Support Community Research team Erica Fortune, Abigail Newell, PhD, María B. Gonzalo, MS, PMP explored cancer-related distress and unmet needs among individuals with metastatic and non-metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (#NSCLC). Participants reported distress related to future uncertainty, fatigue, and physical activity, regardless of disease stage. The findings suggest that demographic factors, rather than clinical indicators, were the strongest predictors of distress, highlighting the importance of personalized psychosocial support. Support needs are clear: Coping with uncertainty, managing fatigue, and staying active matter most, regardless of metastatic status. Tailored care can further enhance support: Emotional and relational support may be especially relevant for those with metastatic disease, while assistance with mobility and daily tasks may be more important for those with non-metastatic NSCLC. If you’re attending ASCO-QC, stop by our poster tomorrow, October 11th 7:00 AM–7:55 AM; 12:15 PM–1:30 PM ET. Erica Fortune will be there to present the findings and discuss how these insights can improve patient care and quality of life. To see the full digital poster, visit: https://lnkd.in/e4pZxCRX #NSCLC #SupportiveCare #Research #Oncology