Ostro’s Post

While the consumerization of healthcare has simplified access to care for lifestyle conditions like acne and hair loss, its impact on more serious conditions, such as cancer, has only recently begun to emerge. On its 10th year anniversary, Exact Sciences' Cologuard, a noninvasive, at-home alternative to colonoscopy, is a prime example of how consumerization can apply to diagnostics. Through convenience and accessibility, Cologuard has been: (1) used by 16 million patients (2) detected 525,000 cases of advanced precancerous lesions (3) identified 42,000 cases of Stage I cancer (4) saved the US healthcare system $22 billion It was a pleasure speaking with Kevin Conroy, Jake Orville, Jaime LaMontagne, Mark Fallai, on Exact Sciences' decade milestone. Check out my latest Forbes article to learn more! cc: Morry Smulevitz, Stephanie Spanos, Blair B.

“There’s something in there… we think it might be a ticking time bomb.” In the attached #CHEST podcast from last year, Dr. Ray Osarogiagbon and Dr. Paul Pinsky discuss the need for nodule workflows in the #medicare population, and how the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines are not sufficient to catch the majority of lung cancers diagnosed each year. More sobering, Dr. Osarogiagbon suggests that patients with incidental nodules lost to follow up due to limited resources or programs, might open institutions up to litigation due to changing perceptions about lung cancer survival. “There’s the medical and legal aspect about [lung nodule follow up]. Do you have the information that could potentially save a persons life… if the patient presents with acute abdominal pain and they had an abdominal CT scan, which revealed the presence of a lesion. We were so excited about rescuing the patient from acute appendicitis that we forgot there was something in the lung, that in two or three years, becomes a lethal lung cancer.” Systems can be overwhelmed when managing nodule follow up. Multi disciplinary nodule programs with nodule intake coordinators and nurse navigators are the gold standard. Primary care, radiology and emergency medicine can assist in following up on scans. With one simple blood draw a provider can Reclassify Risk & Reduce Uncertainty of low to moderate risk nodules. Nodify Lung® testing consists of two blood-based proteomic tests, the Nodify CDT® & Nodify XL2® tests to help providers quickly and confidently decipher the risk of malignancy of a lung nodule. #LungCancerRisk #nodule Biodesix, Inc. #NoduleManagement #incidental #ldct

In an interview by UroToday + GU OncToday, Drs. Stephen B. Williams, MD, MBA, MS, FACHE and Zachary Klaassen discuss the impact of our test, #Vesta, for their treatment decision making in Non-Muscle Invasive #BladderCancer. "If they have the markers present or not, determines what subsequent therapy they should proceed with." Vesta was validated across 1000+ patients and 12 institutions for prediction of response to BCG, recurrence and disease progression, and was presented by Dr. Williams at #AUA2024. Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gG7PEHVe

The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma is rapidly evolving, making the expertise of a multidisciplinary care team more crucial than ever. How can we collaborate to optimize patient outcomes? Join Dr. Charles Turck as he dives into this topic with Dr. Hannah Lee, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University. Discover vital roles within the HCC care team and explore how their collaboration can improve outcomes. Don’t miss this insightful conversation: https://ow.ly/ICyB50T2ZB5 #LiverCancer #HCC #MultidisciplinaryCare #PatientCare

🦠 Oral Health and Colorectal Cancer: Key Insights for Dental Professionals 🦠 Recent research has linked Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), a bacterium found in periodontal disease, to colorectal cancer. Studies show Fn may not only be associated with but could also contribute to cancer progression. (Wang et al., 2021; Fred Hutchinson Research Center, 2022). As dental professionals, it’s crucial to communicate the broader health impacts of oral hygiene. Educating patients on how poor oral care can be linked to serious conditions like colorectal cancer underscores the importance of maintaining good oral health. 📚 Need a resource to share? Check out our simplified guide to the oral microbiome: https://lnkd.in/exD8XuNs #sunstar #oralhealth #colorectalcancer #patienteducation

In a potential breakthrough for #cancertreatment, a new medication priced at only Rs 100 has captured attention, offering hope for #affordable and accessible options. Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor engages in a conversation with Dr Prashant Mehta, an Oncologist, to explore the possibilities and challenges associated with this seemingly revolutionary pill. Dr. Mehta emphasizes the need for cautious #optimism, stating that while the initial findings are promising, it is still too early to determine the medication's #effectiveness. Currently undergoing animal testing, the anti-cancer pill has yet to undergo the rigorous testing phases required for human use. The prospect of a low-cost #anticancer #medicine has raised hopes for patients facing the financial burden of expensive #treatments. However, the medical community underscores the importance of thorough testing to ensure the safety and #efficacy of the medication. As the world eagerly awaits the outcome of further research, the potential affordability of this anti-cancer pill could mark a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against cancer. The #medical community, patients, and advocates are closely watching for updates on the progress of this groundbreaking development. #News #Medlr #Healthnews #Healthcare #Health

Excited to share insights from our latest publication unveiling Noselab's innovative diagnostic platform for #Alzheimer's disease (AD). Presented at the prestigious AD/PD - Advances in Science & Therapy 2024 conference in Lisbon. Our approach focuses on detecting AD biomarkers derived from the upper nasal cavity for safe and non-invasive diagnosis. By analyzing nasal cerebrospinal fluid (#nCSF) collected from the vicinity of the brain-nose interface (BNI), our platform offers a promising solution for early-stage detection and patient stratification. Traditional methods like PET scans and CSF assays often pose accessibility and invasiveness challenges, which our methodology aims to overcome. With an initial focus on AD, our platform offers a comprehensive solution for patient assessment and monitoring. Beyond AD, our approach holds promise for detecting other neurodegenerative diseases, potentially transforming the diagnostic landscape. With the potential to revolutionize AD diagnostics, we're committed to advancing patient care and research in neurodegenerative diseases. #AlzheimersResearch #InnovationInHealthcare #MedicalBreakthroughs https://lnkd.in/eGNfFgEN

Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma at early stages is critical to ensuring patient survival, these findings suggest. Additional demographic + clinical features can be used to identify those at high risk for poor outcomes + inform targeted interventions. https://ja.ma/3U3RKRF

Great collaborative effort led by Koh Jin Hean and Li Feng Tan synthesizing the literature on head and neck CT-derived sarcopenia biomarkers across various disease cohorts including #stroke, #trauma, and #brain #aneurysms. CT-defined sarcopenia is predictive of increased mortality and adverse outcomes in medical and surgical patients.  Measurement and early identification of sarcopenia in vulnerable patients allows for enhanced prognostication and targeted allocation of care to mitigate adverse outcomes. Frederick Koh Andrew Makmur Jim Hallinan leonard yeo Ching-Hui Sia Check out the full study here: 📊💡

Healthcare leaders of integrated clinical practices and health systems, check out this article in Becker's Healthcare featuring Solaris Health. In-house Hereditary Cancer Testing delivers on the Quadruple Aim of healthcare with better patient and family outcomes, improved patient experience, enhanced clinical experience for providers, and lower costs. No bills from third-party labs that may be out of network with multiple co-pays, and immediate integrated genomic data into the EHR brings a higher level of care and cohort identification. Ping me for more information! #hereditarycancer #precisionmedicine #genetictesting #integratedhealthcare #beatcancer https://lnkd.in/gdW__m5S