Hannah R. Abrams

Editorial by Shahnam & Gounder highlighting problem with calling Brightline study negative. Investigators did the right thing comparing Brigimadlin to most active/SOC drug, doxorubicin. mPFS of 8.4 mo in a disease with few options shouldn't = discarded drug. #sarcoma aacrjournals.org/clincancerre...

Wow - only 17% of cancer drug cost effectiveness analyses include enough data to be reproducible. @jco-asco.bsky.social ascopubs.org/doi/full/10....

On #ASCOQLTY26 hot topic of AI use in oncology, live paper in JCO OP @jco-asco.bsky.social today on ambient scribes. Huge range of use: some super-users, some not using at all. Overall, not reducing 'pajama time' but maybe helping some outliers. Form your own opinion: ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1...

My $0.02 on the❓of "is AI destroying the doctor/patient relationship": No, people not feeling they can trust their doctors is. (For both true & misinfo reasons). It's our role to be trustworthy 1-on-1 with our pts. Curious to hear thoughts from others in oncology. #ASCOQLTY26

Hannah R. Abrams@hannahrabrams.bsky.social

Oncologists, patients, researchers debate live #ASCOQLTY26: what should role of AI be in cancer care? How/should it be regulated? Is it helpful, & is there risk of over-regulating our way into another fax machine era in medicine? @andrewmibrahim.bsky.social @fumikochino.bsky.social

A few interesting #ASCOQLTY26 day 2 posters: M13: Fezolinetant for hot flashes from breast cancer treatment. Funded by @bcrfcure.bsky.social, important because #breastcancer patients weren't included in original studies. Significant ↓ in hot flash frequency compared to placebo!

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E16: I'm biased, but I think this is one of the most exciting innovations coming in cancer care. What if we could decrease waste and save people money at the same time? Promise to improve not just cost of treating cancer but cancer control itself. #ASCOQLTY26 @emilymackler.bsky.social

And another thing I'm biased about, K3 & L11: two posters (the bias is that one is mine) both trying to better define time costs of cancer care in a way that's more helpful to patients. Strong quotes from pts in both that term "time toxicity" is unhelpful! #ASCOQLTY26 Kudos to Dr. Erin Bange!

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M1: @swog.org's Pitch the PAC (Patient Advocacy Committee) setup. I am a beneficiary of this program - getting to workshop ideas with an entire committee of dedicated advocates is invaluable. More cooperative groups should do this! #ASCOQLTY26 @ammercurio.bsky.social @barbarasegarra.bsky.social

J23 @fumikochino.bsky.social Figure 1 says it all - when health information goes viral it disseminates rapidly among people with cancer, & stays that way once it's out there #ASCOQLTY26

K7: Interviews on admin burden (ie the pain of asking cancer patients to coordinate their visits/tests during chemo). "The Maze," "The Flurry," "Tell Us Sooner," & "It Takes a Village" unfortunately feel like quotes straight from clinic. @bthomphd.bsky.social @drtessthompson.bsky.social #ASCOQLTY26

Check out this poster presentation today, then dive deeper @jco-asco.bsky.social to learn how Spain is sustaining QI in cancer care 10 years on: - Individual areas with huge improvement (fertility pres!) - Why it worked - Why some areas (documentation) may have dropped #ASCOQLTY26

JCO Journals@jco-asco.bsky.social

‼️ #ASCOQLTY26 simultaneous publication by Gratal, et al. A Decade of QOPI in Spain: From Quality Measurement to Continuous Improvement in Oncology Practice Read the article: https://bit.ly/47TPPW4

Physician payments & end-of-life tx: -Slight ⬆️ aggressive EOL care among those who received payments -However, is this a function of 3' centers seeing more patients at later lines of tx? -Need to clarify research support vs personal $ #ASCOQLTY26 @thewonkologist.bsky.social @dusetzinas.bsky.social

Sobering, important work #ASCOQLTY26: rise in deaths pregnancy-associated deaths among people w/ cancer over past 8 years. Lots of questions needed about how the death certificate data was defined, etc - but highlights how important it is to pay attention to this at-risk group.

How do we dial in on the WHO & WHAT to make financial navigation helpful for cancer patients? One negative RCT, one positive #ASCOQLTY26 Like in early-intervention palliative care, is the next step understanding what's actually in the intervention, then tailoring to each group?

Starting off strong #ASCOQLTY26! Scott Ramsey @fredhutch.org: Before the Affordable Care Act, 22% of people's credit scores dropped after a cancer diagnosis, and for 10% dropped 50+ points. Since the ACA, that number is down to 15%, and 6% 50+ points. @ascocancer.bsky.social

Hannah R. Abrams reposted

Larry Levitt

@larrylevitt.bsky.social

15 Sept

New Census numbers show the number of people uninsured held steady in 2025. BUT...That's before enhanced ACA premium subsidies expired, causing millions of people to drop coverage this year. And before Medicaid cuts start to hit next year. www.census.gov/library/publ...

12 Sept

I learn something every time I read papers by oncology PharmDs. This @JCOOP_ASCO letter talks through discrepant findings between 2 studies of taxane titration. It would be great to save patients time-in-chair, but there are still some key concerns: ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1...

9 Sept

What's unique about financial toxicity in pediatric cancer settings? - Effect on siblings, costs of both food + babysitting for other kids & lost wages - Long-term financial effects for young families at a fragile time - Often using crowdfunding, eg GoFundMe, to help ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1...

24 July

To a non-expert, this seems to be a neat new tool: Google can now create and export isochrones (maps of the space within a given travel time from a point) from a given point. Here's the space within 30 minutes of Seattle's trauma hospital (Harborview), for ex. developers.google.com/maps/documen...

tiktok.combc fatigue, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, and hair loss shouldn't be your whole personality #anemia #anemiasymptoms #irondeficiency #lowironTikTok video by by.eunicel

16 July

Interesting idea for people with iron deficiency who struggle to take iron pills! @shematologist.medsky.social, have you heard of this? www.tiktok.com/@by.eunicel/...

ascopubs.orgGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Breast Cancer: Metabolic, Clinical, and Survivorship Implications | JCO Oncology PracticeBreast cancer is increasingly recognized as an obesity-associated disease, with obesity linked to higher risk of postmenopausal estrogen receptor–positive disease and adverse outcomes across stages. A...

2 July

There's been a lot of excitement about GLP1s in breast cancer - mostly on the basis of retrospective data. How to sort through it all? And how might GLP1s affect survivorship issues like lymphedema & cardiovascular risk? Read on below ⬇️ @jco-asco.bsky.social ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...

Hannah R. Abrams reposted

Larry Levitt

@larrylevitt.bsky.social

26 June

New federal data shows that as of February, 19.2 million people were signed up for ACA plans, down about 3 million as enhanced premium subsidies were allowed to expire. That number will surely grow as more people find they can't pay much higher out-of-pocket premiums. aspe.hhs.gov/reports/aca-...

aspe.hhs.govACA Exchange Enrollment in 2026Key Points

25 June

Managing bone health in breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors: comprehensive review out now in JCO OP! @jessicaallenmd.bsky.social ascopubs.org/doi/full/10....

Nice editorial @thewonkologist.bsky.social & Dr. Nancy Keating about revisiting our priors re: Medicare Advantage for cancer care. While there is reason to be cautious and investigate, current data on MA vs traditional medicare in cancer is far from conclusive. ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...

...And in a world of near universal prior auth for cancer drugs regardless (@michaelannica.bsky.social @fumikochino.bsky.social), unclear that MA vs traditional sees a big difference there.

Hannah R. Abrams reposted

Gabriele Mari

@gmari.bsky.social

16 Mar

For unpaid #carers, earning more does not always lead to economic security. Motivated by the recent #Carer's #Allowance scandal, I have a new working paper @usociety.bsky.social on how much insecurity carers experience, for how long, who's most exposed and why: osf.io/preprints/so... 1/2

Never mind!

Hannah R. Abrams@hannahrabrams.bsky.social

Does anyone know what happens if an entire group’s games all end in draws?

Does anyone know what happens if an entire group’s games all end in draws?

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò@olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social

good to see the energy of Egypt's press but seems like composure lacking so far, as likely to concede as to equalize at this rate

21 June

Did not know cancer centers can technically now bill for patient navigation. I agree with the patients interviewed here: navigation is extremely high-value, and also I do not think it should be behind a paywall. ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...

@thewonkologist.bsky.social

20 June

Waiting for clinical teams to order NGS slows down turnaround time by 2 weeks on average. It's time for insurance companies & cancer centers to work together & set up automatic pipelines in these situations, so patients don't have a long anxious wait to start treatment. ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...

Hannah R. Abrams reposted

Aaron Mitchell

18 June

Timely, this recent piece in JCO Oncology Practice @ascocancer.bsky.social seems aimed towards helping private practice oncologists understand the implications of selling to their practice to PE firms: ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...

ascopubs.orgFrom Burnout to Buyout: Private Equity's Growing Appeal in Oncology | JCO Oncology Practice

Aaron Mitchell@thewonkologist.bsky.social

I appreciated this thoughtful commentary on our recent (surprisingly "negative") study of private equity's effect on cancer care. I would summarize as: we looked only at one form of harm, and other potential harms have not been excluded. academic.oup.com/jnci/advance...

academic.oup.comPrivate equity acquisitions and cancer care: nothing to see here? Not so fast.Private equity (PE) involvement in the acquisition of health-care practices is rapidly expanding, with more than $750 billion invested over the past decade

18 June

Midjourney has announced they're developing a full-body 60 second "ultrasonic CT". I want better & cheaper imaging. But the idea that: 50K scanners x 720 min x 30d = 1 billion scans/mo Seems totally unaware of supply/demand, logistical constraints of getting people in/out, & privacy concerns

18 June

Feels like a missed opportunity adapt to any of the lessons from Prenuvo, Grail/MCEDs, or screening research generally. Making whole body screening scans ubiquitous + a data funnel to Midjourney has real privacy risks, & unfortunately there's still not clear evidence they improve care yet.

3 June

On the #ASCO26 hot topics of KRAS and toxicity: systematic review & meta-analysis in JCO OP of sotorasib dosing shows trend to improved PFS with LOWER dosing. Less toxicity -> longer time on-treatment? @jco-asco.bsky.social ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...

30 May

Key #desmoid tumor takeaways from RINGSIDE presentation (varegacestat) #ASCO26 #sarcoma today: - ORR 55.7%, remainder largely shrunk but under 30% - Quick time to pain improvement - only 4 weeks in many - 80% need for dose reduction primarily d/t diarrhea

30 May

JCO OP at #ASCO26: Follow up yesterday's session, "Cancer Care in Times of Crisis and in Immigrant and Displaced Populations." Full case discussion out now @jco-asco.bsky.social: ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...

30 May

#ASCO26 Abstract 12160: impressive effort to review charts of n = 848 patients for whether corticosteroids for irAE → worse cancer outcomes. Adds to/confirms existing literature in this area suggesting the concern is really with high doses.

ascopubs.orgEfficacy and Safety of Anselamimab in Immunoglobulin Light Chain Amyloidosis: Results From the Randomized CARES TrialsPURPOSEIn immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis, amyloid fibrils cause organ dysfunction. Anselamimab, a monoclonal antibody, selectively binds to amyloid fibrils, accelerating their…

Simultaneous publications drop today! JCO & JCO OP @jco-asco.bsky.social release first sim pubs of #ASCO26 today. Here are the first 3: 1. Anselamimab in AL amyloid 2. Titrating or not for first dose taxanes 3. Adding BCG to chemo + immunotherapy in MIBC

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2. First-dose taxanes, uncommon to see an online-only abstract as sim pub but I think this one really earned it! Surprisingly, stepwise titration doesn't reduce reactions - & probably is taking up a ton of people's time! #ASCO26 ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/... Brief thread: x.com/HannahRAbram...

x.comx.com

3. BCG + CIT: Knew from the abstract: pCR 68%, 42% had any BCG tox, 9% G3. Paper adds: while largely comprehensive, notably 20% of ITT didn’t get all doses of rBCG Would love to hear from bladder experts what your thoughts were now that the full paper is out! #ASCO26 ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1...

1. Anselamimab/AL amyloid What we knew from the abstract: in n = 271 pts w newly dx stg IIIa/IIIb AL amyloid, adding Anselamimab to (+/- dara)-CyBorD → In those w/ κ-AL, ↓ all-cause mortality 62% and CV hosp 71%. Limited benefit in ƛ-AL. Dara exposure similar. #ASCO26

Paper adds: Forest plot w/o other clear predictors of response. Re: huge difference between κ and ƛ AL, anselamimab was generated w/ kappa isotype immunogen. KMs for overall vs κ-only & ƛ-only pop below! #ASCO26 ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...

What can we tell folks w/ taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy after early-stage cancer re: whether it will recover? @SWOG.org 1714, #ASCO26 abs 12117: - Of 1321 pts, 553 had TIPN at end of tx. - 48.5%, it improved - 33.8% didn't change - 17.7% worsened @drdawnhershman.bsky.social #survivorship

27 May

Tips for fellows going to their first #ASCO26 (as I prepare to go to my whole of... second): Google "mccormick place floor plan" and pick your favorite version of the map to save to your phone. I'm sure the blue 3D one works for some people, but it does not for me! 😂

23 May

It's not in your head: prior auth has increased over the past 10 years in oncology. (Though not as much as other specialties.) @jco-asco.bsky.social ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...

21 May

We have a lot of mechanisms to prevent OVER dosing of chemotherapy. This week in #JCOOP, Dr. Ruth Choa & colleagues outline a case in which an EMR error led a patient to receive an UNDER dose -only 50%- for 4/8 cycles of curative-intent treatment. @jco-asco.bsky.social ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...