Adult Services, Health Equity, Oncology/Hematology, Pulmonology

Narrowing racial and ethnic disparities among lung cancer patients

Black Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival rate of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers, according to a 2019 study. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in Black adults, according to the same study. The rate of new…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology

Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) for oligometastatic disease

Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) is playing an important role in treating oligometastatic patients with breast, lung, colorectal and prostate tumors, according to a review of published literature. With each of these cancers, SABR showed benefits for oligometastatic patients, defined as one to five metastases in one to three organs. SABR gives some patients with…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology

Basel Altoos, M.D., joins Norton Cancer Institute

Basel M. Altoos, M.D., a board-certified radiation oncologist, has joined Norton Cancer Institute and will see patients downtown and at King’s Daughters’ Health in Madison, Indiana. Refer a patient To refer a patient to Norton Cancer Institute, visit Norton EpicLink and choose EpicLink referral to Oncology. Refer online Call (888) 4-U-Norton / (888) 486-6786 Dr….

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Oncology/Hematology, Pediatric Services

Identifying common bleeding disorders in pediatric patients

Signs of common bleeding disorders in children can take many forms from birth through adolescence, according to Ashok B. Raj, M.D., pediatric hematologist/oncologist with Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. A newborn bleeding from the umbilical stump, an infant who’s just starting to walk having a painfully swollen joint after…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology, Research

Drug targeting prostate cancer cells to deliver radioisotope prolongs survival in trial

A cutting-edge new treatment specifically targets prostate cancer cells to deliver a tumor-killing radioisotope and helped extend patients’ lives longer in an international clinical trial (VISION Study), according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on Sept. 16, 2021. The drug, lutetium-177–PSMA-617, was used to treat patients with metastatic castration-resistant…

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Neuro-Oncology, Oncology/Hematology, Pediatric Services

Offering the latest childhood brain tumor therapies so kids and their families don’t have to travel far from home

Brain tumors are now the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children. Year after year, Kentucky ranks among states with the highest incidence of children with brain tumors, and Kentucky currently ranks third in the nation. At Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, our goal is to be able to…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology

Patient benefits of the Norton Cancer Institute’s multidisciplinary clinics

At Norton Cancer Institute, our goal is to have newly diagnosed cancer patients meet all the potential providers who could be part of their care. With that in mind — and more — we’ve established multidisciplinary programs for breast cancer, lung cancer, upper gastrointestinal cancer, head and neck tumors, and brain tumors. Surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation…

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Adult Services, Gynecology, Infectious Disease, Oncology/Hematology

HPV and your lesbian patients

Lesbians may be at higher risk for HPV because of historical health care barriers that may have caused reluctance to get preventive screenings. Making matters worse, much of the discussion around sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has focused on heterosexual couples. “Providers and patients alike need to realize that the risks of sexually transmitted infections, including…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology

Screening for lung, colon and breast cancers take priority

After many put off their preventive cancer screenings, Norton Cancer Institute is working to screen as many people as possible as early as possible for lung, colon and breast cancers. Adding urgency to the effort, Kentucky’s lung cancer rate is highest in the nation; it is second-highest for colon cancer and 25th for breast cancer,…

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Oncology/Hematology, Pediatric Services

Optimizing leukemia/lymphoma care with a multidisciplinary team

The most effective way to optimize patient care revolves around a combination of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, social workers and case managers. Members of the team work together to help with decision-making in each child’s care. Having a team follow the patient over their treatment course improves patient continuity and patient experience. Not only…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology, Pediatric Services, Research

Access to evolving clinical science close to home

Norton Cancer Institute’s clinical research program was developed to ensure that cancer patients in our community and region have access to evolving clinical science. Guided by an experienced cadre of physicians and supported by a team of clinical research nurses and coordinators, Norton Cancer Institute oversees about 200 active clinical trials at any point in…

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Oncology/Hematology, Pediatric Services, Research

Groundbreaking research and exceptional care come with Norton Children’s Cancer Institute/UofL School of Medicine affiliation

This is an exciting time for Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. The clinical-academic partnership for all pediatric hematology/oncology inpatient, outpatient and pediatric infusion care provides more integrated care options, treatments, and resources for children throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Patients receive high quality clinical care and have access to…

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