Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, with early BC (EBC) comprising most cases. Advancements in neo(adjuvant) therapies have significantly improved outcomes, although they are often associated with cancer treatment-induced bone loss, which increases the risk of fractures and negatively impacts quality of life.
The incidence of melanoma is increasing worldwide, also among pediatric patients. According to the recent EUROCARE-6 report, cutaneous melanoma accounts for approximately 6% of all tumors in children, and about 10% among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) (i.e., patients aged 15-39 years).1 The reported incidence rate among patients aged <19 years is 0.43/100,000, rising to 6.9/100,000 among AYAs. As such, according to the definition adopted by European pediatric cooperative groups for rare childhood tumors (i.e., tumors with an annual incidence of <2 cases per million population), cutaneous melanoma can be considered a rare tumor in children, but not in AYAs.2
If, as widely recognized in the scientific community, adolescent and young adult cancer patients are in many ways unique, then the spaces where they receive care should be equally special. The design of hospital environments that cater to the specific needs of young patients is a crucial factor in defining the essential features that care centers should ideally include to provide the best possible support for adolescent and young adult patients.
This article analyses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in health pastoral care, emphasizing the synergy between technology and spirituality. This paper discusses possible AI applications, highlighting the importance of ethical implementation that respects human interactions. Ethical issues like privacy and empathy are examined, as well as the potential of AI in facilitating collaboration between healthcare professionals and pastoral workers. Finally, it calls for a debate on the responsible use of AI in care contexts.
Advances in therapeutic techniques and multimodal approaches have significantly improved the success rates of treatment for pediatric malignancies, with cure rates now close to 80%. This has led to an increase in long-term survival, with 0.10-0.15% of the general population being survivors of childhood cancer.
Genitourinary cancers present significant challenges to oncologists, necessitating innovative approaches for improved patient outcomes. The ‘Controversies in Genitourinary Cancers’ congress, held in January 2024, convened international experts to address the complexities of prostate, bladder, renal and rare genitourinary cancers.
The use of Digital Healthcare Products is leading to significant improvements in clinical practice. Herein, we discuss the development of PROACT 2.0 (Patient Reported Opinions About Clinical Tolerability v2.0), a novel open-source mobile and web application developed at Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milan. It was developed in collaboration with The Christie, Manchester, in the context of work package 2 of the UpSMART Accelerator project, involving a consortium of referral cancer centers from the UK, Spain and Italy.
This article describes the oncology programs developed in Italy for adolescents and young adults with cancer, with a specific focus on the local projects created in pediatric oncology centers. A common feature of such projects is the emphasis on creative and artistic activities and laboratories (involving music, photography, novel writing, fashion design, and so on) designed to give young patients innovative means of expression.