Lower Back Pain and Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
The Biggest Energy Users In Cancer Treatment Aren't What You Think
Energy expended for hospital and clinic electricity, climate control and ventilation is by far the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in radiotherapy, a treatment used in more than half of cancer cases, a new study found.
The Lancet Oncology study, led by UC San Francisco researchers, sought to quantify the environmental footprint associated with radiotherapy across 10 cancer types, including breast, lung and prostate cancer. The assessment considered factors ranging from patient and staff travel to medical equipment and reusable and single-source supplies.
Seventy-four percent of total greenhouse gas emissions came from the energy used to operate buildings and equipment, while patient and staff transit to and from medical facilities contributed 25% of total emissions, on average.
Medical facilities tend to consume more energy than other buildings in the commercial sector by being open 24 hours a day and occupied by thousands of staff, patients, and visitors, and by requiring a great deal of energy for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to control temperatures and airflow. Also, there are many energy-intensive activities and equipment in these buildings such as sterilization, MRI scanners and radiation treatment machines, also called linear accelerators.
"When we think about reducing environmental impact, we often point our finger at the largest equipment in the room, which is our treatment machines. Yet running those accounts for just 3% of the total energy used for radiotherapy treatments," said Katie Lichter, MD, MPH, first author of the study and a UCSF resident in radiation oncology. "HVAC is the main culprit."
Emissions from patient travel come from the need for patients to commute back and forth for daily radiotherapy sessions, often lasting several weeks and involving significant distances. This highlights the need for more accessible care, greener transit options and supportive services for local housing during treatment, she said.
The researchers ran simulations on treatment courses that used more intense radiation over fewer days – called hypofractionation – and found it can reduce emissions by up to 77% for some prostate cancers and 42% for some breast cancers due to less patient travel, energy and resources used per treatment. Past research has shown hypofractionation is just as effective and safe as regular treatment for cases deemed appropriate by physicians.
Telehealth, satellite centers, referrals and local housing accommodations can cut down on the emissions that result from patients commuting to medical centers for radiotherapy. Cancer facilities can also switch their patient transportation services to a service like Uber Green, which requires all drivers to have low-emission hybrid or electric cars, Lichter said.
While radiation oncology departments don't have much control over hospital-wide energy consumption, health care professionals can promote energy efficiency at their workplaces by advocating for HVAC upgrades and building improvements and supporting sustainability pledges such as the White House/HHS health sector climate pledge, the authors wrote. Such advocacy has led UCSF Health to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26% since 2015, aim for carbon neutrality by 2025 and phase out the use of natural gas.
It's important for clinical service lines to determine their individual environmental footprints so they can decide on the best and most feasible opportunities for change, Lichter said.
"We've known for a while that health care contributes 9% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., but we, as clinicians, need to drill down by specialty to understand our emissions at baseline," Lichter said. Unless you measure something, you don't know if it is getting better or worse. And we can't manage what we do not measure."
Authors: Additional UCSF co-authors are Ali Sabbagh, MD, Alan Wiztum, PhD, Sue S. Yom, PhD, Chirjiv Anand, PhD, and Ali Sabbagh, MD.
Funding: The work was supported by the Mount Zion Health Fund.
Experimental Cancer Treatment Gives New Jersey Mom A Chance For A Second Baby: 'I Decided To Go For It'
A New Jersey mom had just given birth when she received a life-changing cancer diagnosis — and her biggest fear was she wouldn't be able to have more children.
When Kelly Spill first started experiencing bleeding, her doctors chalked it up to pregnancy and childbirth, especially given her young age of 28.
But then came the weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite. "I knew deep down that it was cancer," she told Fox News Digital.
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After a colonoscopy, Spill's fears were confirmed: She had stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Her baby boy, Chase Bonito, was just a month old.
Kelly Spill of New Jersey was a new mom with a 1-month-old son (shown at left) when she was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. (Kelly Spill)
The original plan was to check out three hospitals to get treatment options and gauge their level of comfort, she said.
The first stop, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, ended up being their last.
"They checked all the boxes," Spill said.
"I would most likely never be able to carry another baby again."
"The original plan was to get chemotherapy, radiation and surgery," Spill told Fox News Digital.
"But that would have meant I would most likely never be able to carry another baby again — and that's really hard to hear at just 28 years old," she said.
Cancer treatment and fertilityTraditional cancer treatments are known to impact a woman's ability to have children, according to Amanda Schwer, M.D., a radiation oncologist at City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in Irvine, California.
"Radiation targeted at, or absorbed by, a woman's reproductive organs can affect fertility, as can chemotherapy, which may cause women to lose fertility-related hormones," Schwer, who was not involved in Spill's care, told Fox News Digital.
Dr. Madhu Shetti, a radiation oncologist and founder of skincare company Balmere in California, noted that certain chemotherapy drugs can shift the hormone levels in a pre-menopausal woman into menopause, making it difficult to conceive a child.
The original plan was for Spill to have chemotherapy, radiation and surgery — which would have impacted her ability to have additional children. Spill is pictured here with her first child, a son named Chase Bonito. (Kelly Spill)
"Ultimately, every woman should speak with her care team to understand her individual risks, benefits and alternatives," said Shetti, who did not treat Spill, in a statement to Fox News Digital.
An unexpected new treatmentJust before she scheduled her first day of chemo, Spill was presented with a new treatment path.
Based on her biopsies, doctors told Spill she was a match for a new clinical trial run by the SU2C Colorectal Cancer Dream Team, a research team at Memorial Sloan that is committed to improving access to alternative cancer care.
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The trial would test an immunotherapy drug — dostarlimab — as a first-line treatment in lieu of grueling rounds of chemo, radiation and surgery.
"All I knew at that time was that the side effects of this immunotherapy would be a lot less harsh on my body than chemotherapy, and I would have a chance of a better quality of life — and maybe even another baby," Spill said.
"We know that immunotherapy success rates may differ, and not every patient responds or has a lasting response to it."
Immunotherapy works by activating the patient's own immune system to attack the cancer cells, Schwer said.
"It is an important cancer treatment breakthrough and there have been many advancements in this field," she said.
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"However, it is still evolving. We know that immunotherapy success rates may differ, and not every patient responds or has a lasting response to it."
Age, lifestyle factors and other existing medical conditions can all impact the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments, Schwer added.
Spill, pictured with her son and husband, underwent immunotherapy infusions as an alternative to chemo and radiation. (Kelly Spill)
"Genetic testing may help detect treatments that are more effective for patients, but more research is still needed in this field."
'All about timing'After talking with her care team and weighing the risks and potential benefits, Spill decided to proceed with the clinical trial.
"I decided to go for it. For me, it was all about timing."
Spill was just the fourth person in the country to participate in the trial.
She received dostarlimab via infusion every three weeks for six months.
"One of the hardest parts about cancer is coming out of survival mode, and realizing you're a human again and taking on life again."
Although side effects are a possibility with immunotherapy, Spill said she only experienced fatigue — "which sometimes I think it was mostly from motherhood."
At her fourth treatment, Spill was told that her tumor had shrunk in half.
"By the ninth treatment, my tumor had completely disappeared, which was extremely exciting," she said.
New chance at lifeBefore starting treatment, Spill and her husband had frozen some embryos as a safety measure.
After she was declared cancer-free, her first desire was to become pregnant again.
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"But my doctor advised me to wait at least two years, because if the cancer was going to come back, it would most likely be in that time frame," Spill said.
That was difficult for her to hear, she said — but now she sees it as a smart decision.
"One of the hardest parts about cancer is coming out of survival mode, and realizing you're a human again and taking on life again," Spill said.
During those two years of waiting, she took some emotional intelligence courses to help her process what she had been through.
"By the ninth treatment, my tumor had completely disappeared, which was extremely exciting," Spill told Fox News Digital. (Kelly Spill)
"I came out a much better person than who I was prior," Spill said.
In July 2023, she gave birth to her second child, a healthy baby girl.
"Her name is Mya Grace, and she's an angel," she told Fox News Digital.
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Today, Spill remains cancer-free.
She has gone in for scans and biopsies every six months, and just got the approval to move to yearly scans.
Spill said her son, pictured with his newborn sister, loves being a big brother. (Kelly Spill)
Spill and her husband are already talking about a third baby, she shared.
To others facing a new diagnosis, Spill's advice is to "feel your feelings."
"Feel anything that you are feeling at that time, because it's important," she said.
"It helps you understand what you are going through."
After she was declared cancer-free, Spill said her first desire was to become pregnant again, but doctors advised her to wait two years. She is pictured here with her son. (Kelly Spill)
Spill also emphasizes the importance of being your own advocate.
"You don't like an answer? Keep searching. You know your body best."
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Anyone who is interested in exploring immunotherapy should consult with their health care provider, experts advise.
"It is important to speak with your oncologist to understand your individual risks, benefits and alternatives," said Shetti.
Spill, pictured with her daughter, remains cancer-free. She has gone in for scans and biopsies every six months, and just got the approval to move to yearly scans. (Kelly Spill)
Women who are considering having children should ask their provider about the potential impact of any treatment, added Schwer.
"If you are facing cancer, thinking about starting or growing a family right now can add to the sense of feeling overwhelmed," she told Fox News Digital.
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"Remember, you are not alone — and you will benefit from talking to your physician about your concerns and the fertility preservation options that are best for you."
For more Health articles, visit www.Foxnews.Com/health.
Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.Rudy@fox.Com.
Local Man Is First In The World To Receive New Therapy For Prostate Cancer
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Cancer specialists said as rates of cancer rise in younger people, they want everyone to know the early warning signs and the best screenings to lower risk.
Steve Abbott, who is from Cincinnati, is a 12-year prostate cancer survivor with advanced disease. He's currently at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, where he's the first in the world on a new therapy using his own immune system in a unique way – to fight this disease.
"What they can do now is allow the immune system to see the prostate cancer, which it wasn't able to do before, which is why it couldn't do battle with it basically," Abbott said.
He said his previous therapy worked well, but as his PSA numbers began to climb again – his medical team suggested this clinical trial.
He's had only one treatment of this breakthrough therapy so far, but already his PSA is showing improvement. PSA is a protein in the blood that measures prostate risk.
"This was an early indicator. The trial doesn't yet call for it. It was down to 16.6, and it was up to about 30, and that was on April 29th," Abbott said.
But cancer specialists at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center said it's a reminder that the PSA is a critical number for men to know.
"We take a number of factors into consideration, but 4.0 tends to be the upper limit of normal," said Dr. Timothy Struve, a radiation oncologist at the UC Cancer Center.
Finding cancer early allows researchers now to do two things to make sure men get the right treatment. Specialists can perform testing to get answers.
"Whether it's local or metastatic, and even when it's local or metastatic, is it aggressive or non-aggressive?" said Dr. Robert Franklin, a radiation oncologist at the UC Cancer Center.
That allows for targeted treatment based on a person's own disease.
"Our goal would be to find the patients who need treatment and not treat those who don't need treatment," Dr. Franklin said.
For those such as Abbott, getting what works based on his own body has been critical to survival. He said knowing one's own risk can save a person's life.
Abbott is the chair for the 2024 Zero Prostate Cancer Run/Walk on June 1.
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