Two Interesting Findings from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Social determinants of health include a lot of different things about where a person comes from, like their neighborhood, income, education, and the types of support they have. There is growing evidence that a person’s social determinants of health strongly influence how someone with cancer responds to treatment. For example, if someone lives far from a hospital, doesn't have much money, or doesn't have family around, they might have a harder time getting the treatment they need and sticking to it. Also, if they're stressed about money or don't have a good place to live, their body might not handle treatment as well. Doctors try to consider all these things when they help a patient decide on a treatment plan, so they can choose the best option that the patient is most likely to follow through with, and that won't be too tough for them to handle.

The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) is an annual event that brings together experts from around the world to share the latest research in breast cancer.

Looking at the Big Picture

New Initiative Focusing on Quality of Life

Project Optimus is a new effort that's changing how cancer medicine doses are figured out. The FDA is reminding doctors to think about the good effects of a medicine compared to its bad effects. Instead of just giving the largest safe dose, Project Optimus encourages finding the right dose that is both safe and effective. The goal is to make a new rule in cancer care that thinks about how well the medicine works, how safe it is, and how well patients can handle it.