Prevent Cancer Foundation

Abstract Background Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is a leading cause of mortality globally, especially in high-stress environments such as sports and public gatherings. Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) significantly improve survival. However, awareness and readiness remain limited in many countries, including Egypt. Aim The initiative titled “With Our Hands, We Save Lives” aims to raise public awareness and preparedness to respond to SCD, train personnel in CPR and AED use across sports facilities and public venues, as well, to build a national network of trained responders in clubs, gyms, schools, and public areas and strategically deploy AED devices throughout key locations in Egypt. Methods This national campaign is a continuation to the Sudden Cardiac Death Initiative that have been launched in CardioAlex.24 and it is a collaboration between: The Cardiovascular Research Education and Prevention (CVREP) Foundation, The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, The Ministry of Youth and Sports, in addition to some civil organizations including the Egyptian Red Crescent, Egyptian Ambulance Authority, and the Egyptian Resuscitation Council This initiative is organized and managed by Expand Company (A member of ICOM Group). Implementation was carried out through structured, hands-on training events and awareness campaigns aligned with major national and international cardiovascular events, supported by trained facilitators and guided by certified CPR and AED protocols. Results To date:1,820 individuals trained across 6 governorates (Alexandria, Cairo, Damietta, Minya, Assiut)Integration with major events after the launch in CardioAlex.24 as World Heart Day, CardioAlex.25, AfricaHealth ExCon 2025, Sudden Cardiac Death Awareness Days in different cities.A cooperation protocol was officially signed in February 2025.Training of MOH personnel and sports sector staff, including medical, psychological, and nutrition professionals. The program is targeting a full rollout over 27 cities, 250 institutions, and an average of 6,000 trained participants per year. The Planned Activities for the next period include more cities like Giza, Gouna and Luxor in addition to Cairo and Alexandria. Conclusion This initiative demonstrates the feasibility and impact of a multi-stakeholder national strategy to reduce SCD incidents through education and preparedness. It serves as a scalable model for other regions with similar healthcare and sports infrastructure.

This survey study describes the top 5 standards for psychosocial care identified by clinicians and caregivers of pediatric patients with cancer.

Evidence-based Standards for Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and their Families were published in 2015. Determining how often care delivery practices and approaches align with the Standards is important for understanding the reach of the Standards. Medical (n = 73) and psychosocial (n = 99) providers from 129 of 197 (65%) Children's Oncology Group (COG) programs in the United States completed an online survey. Participants reported the frequency, timing, and psychosocial care delivery approaches for each Standard. Program size was considered, and the data were compared with those from a similar 2016 survey. Using a 5-point scale, services consistent with the Standards are provided across programs-mean frequencies of 3.29-4.61 (5-point scale). Standards related to screening and monitoring (M = 4.42) are delivered more often than Standards related to intervention and support (M = 4.25), supportive care and bereavement (M = 3.88), and family and community (M = 3.72) (p < 0.001). Ratings of quality of care are near the midpoint of the scale. Findings are consistent with a 2016 report, although care related to family and community support was less frequent in 2023. Program size and provider discipline were not associated with quality or frequency. Providers report that psychosocial care aligned with the Standards is generally provided and perceive quality of care positively. Variability in types of care, frequency, and quality, and lack of change from when the Standards were first published, highlight the importance of improving the implementation of evidence-based approaches.

Karen Lieshcing-Schroder highlights the many efforts and facets of the Mouth Cancer Foundation support network.

In recent years, there has been a surge in the development of new, blood-based, single- and multi-cancer detection tests (SCD and MCD), which can detect cancer signals prior to the onset of symptoms or clinical diagnosis of cancer. Recognizing the need for consensus definitions and standardized evidence development frameworks for these new types of blood tests, the Early Detection and Screening Working Group of the Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer Consortium, a collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing standards and best practices, developed and published a lexicon for liquid biopsy–based SCD and MCD tests. During the preparation of the lexicon, the group recognized challenges with regard to the definitions of key terms and concepts describing absolute and RR assessment of intended use populations for cancer screening tests. This article captures the working group’s discussions on (i) risk assessment including considerations for adapting historical SCD risk terminology like “average risk” and “elevated risk” to MCD tests, (ii) the implications of this terminology for describing intended use populations, and (iii) the existing gaps in evidence for determination of absolute risks.

A tribute to Dr. Irving J. Selikoff MD, the founder of this journal, is indeed welcome now more than two decades after his passing. He was known during his lifetime as the US Father of Environmental Medicine which at the time encompassed occupational medicine and much more as industry also polluted the general environment. The 1970s were a busy time as OSHA and the EPA were newly formed and high exposures to workers were no exception. Dr. Selikoff was a brave pioneer examining workers throughout the country and Canada, publicizing their exposures, and writing and presenting the scientific results. Industry was not always receptive and controlled an astounding amount of narrative, with the creation of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine filling a void of scientific need. We four authors write about the ethics of occupational health, the plight of nuclear energy workers, the climate crisis and opportunity for unions to engage workers, and the global march toward educating medical students on workers' health and safety. All four of us interacted with Dr. Selikoff during his tenure at Mount Sinai, and over the years joined each other in promoting his legacy. Toward that end we have written articles honoring his memory.

Abstract Purpose: CanAssist Breast (CAB) has been validated retrospectively for assessing risk of recurrence and thereby usefulness of chemotherapy in HR+/HER2- breast cancer. The objective of this study is to assess the agreement between physician’s treatment plan and CAB risk stratification and evaluate whether CAB results aid in the physician’s treatment decision.Methods: The data on the physician’s treatment plan before and after the CAB test was collected prospectively between 2016 and 2021 in 249 patients. Changes in treatment recommendations and compliance with CAB reports were analyzed. Results: Based on conventional clinicopathological features physicians planned to treat 46% of patients with endocrine therapy (ET) (low-risk-LR)), 24% with chemoendocrine therapy (CET) (high-risk-HR)) and in 30% physicians were uncertain of prescribing chemotherapy (intermediate-risk-IR)) before CAB testing. The correlation between clinical risk assessment and CAB risk stratification (k=0.2 (0.05-0.35) was nonsignificant. CAB classified 64% as LR, which was 18% (9.3-25, P=0.0001) higher compared to clinical LR. In the clinical IR category, CAB risk proportions were 55:45 (LR: HR). We observed a substantial shift in treatment recommendation from CET to ET in 54% (40.75- 66.84, P&lt;0.0001) of clinical HR and ET to CET in 26% (18.27- 35.01, P&lt;0.0001) of clinical LR patients. Overall CAB lead to change in treatment recommendation in 42% of the cohort.Conclusions: There was a significant impact of CAB on the physician’s treatment decision. CAB provided definite treatment recommendation to IR patients where the physician had dilemma on prescribing chemotherapy and provided precise treatment plan to clinical LR and HR patients.

Cancer clinical trials often accrue slowly or miss enrollment targets. Strict eligibility criteria are a major reason. Restrictive criteria also limit opportunities for patient participation while compromising external validity of trial results. We examined the impact of broadening select eligibility criteria on characteristics and number of patients eligible for trials, using recommendations of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Friends of Cancer Research. A retrospective, observational analysis used electronic health record data from ASCO's CancerLinQ Discovery database. Study cohort included patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated from 2011 to 2018. Patients were grouped by traditional criteria [no brain metastases, no other malignancies, and creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 60 mL/minute] and broadened criteria (including brain metastases, other malignancies, and CrCl ≥ 30 mL/minute). The analysis cohort included 10,500 patients. Median age was 68 years, and 73% of patients were White. Most patients had stage IV disease (65%). A total of 5,005 patients (48%) would be excluded from trial participation using the traditional criteria. The broadened criteria, however, would allow 98% of patients (10,346) to be potential participants. Examination of patients included by traditional criteria (5,495) versus those added (4,851) by broadened criteria showed that the number of women, patients aged 75+ years, and those with stage IV cancer was significantly greater using broadened criteria. This analysis of real-world data demonstrated that broadening three common eligibility criteria has the potential to double the eligible patient population and include trial participants who are more representative of those encountered in practice.See related commentary by Giantonio, p. 2369.

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer for women in medically underserved areas. This is in part due to a lack of trained clinicians to provide the necessary diagnosis and treatment of precancerous lesions to prevent cervical cancer. Increasing medical provider knowledge and skills is important for the early detection and prevention of cervical precancer and cancer in medically underserved areas of the United States and globally. LUCIA is a low-cost, universal cervical cancer instructional apparatus that can be used to teach and practice a variety of essential skills for cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment, including: visual inspection with acetic acid, Pap and human papillomavirus DNA specimen collection, colposcopy, endocervical curettage, cervical biopsy, cryotherapy, and loop electrosurgical excision procedure. LUCIA was used to provide hands-on training in six courses held in Texas (n=3), El Salvador (n=1), and Mozambique, Africa (n=2). Standardized provider evaluations were administered at three of these courses and resulted in mean scores of 4.12/5 for usefulness, 4.46/5 for skill improvement, and 4.43/5 for ease of skill evaluation. LUCIA provides dynamic, real-time feedback that allows trainees to learn and practice important skills related to cervical cancer prevention while simulating a patient exam.