Key points from today’s guests:
Morning Rounds – Summary of Current News
Dr. Al-Ola Abdallah, hematologist and oncologist, The University of Kansas Cancer Center; director, Plasma Cell Disorder Clinic; chair U.S. Myeloma Innovations Research Collaborative
- In February 2021, a drug branded as "Pepaxto" got accelerated approval to treat certain patients with multiple myeloma.
- But less than one year later, it was pulled off the market after a phase 3 randomized control trial showed it didn't work.
- Patients at The Health System were not prescribed this drug because of concerns over it.
- The trials did not have good results and there were concerns over side effects.
- As a committee, the team decided not to use that drug for patient treatment despite the FDA approval.
Focus Topic
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- Genes tell us one part of the story, but there are other factors that also determine your health.
- Precision medicine is becoming the future of medicine. And what that really means is that therapies will be directed and tailored for you both on your genetic determinants and social determinants of health so we can try and figure out how those two things really come together.
- This is a great time to be in medicine because I think we're truly hitting a real golden era where the therapy is so much more specifically for you.
- Our job in health care is to try and take care of the best way possible and these new tools can help.
Vicki Cohen, benefitted from genetic counseling
- She was advised to get genetic counseling because she had breast cancer in 2020 and colon cancer in 2012.
- Even after regular colonoscopies, her genetic tests showed she was prone to polyps.
- She eventually had more genetic testing.
- Her genetic testing provided her with more advanced information to help her and her doctors make medical decisions that would ultimately provide her with a healthier outlook.
Shobana Kubendran, genetic counselor, The University of Kansas Health System
- Genetic counselors are a vital part of a healthcare team. Our role is to help with the analysis and communication of complex genetic information and combine it with personalized counseling.
- Another component is about the genetic test result and what that means for you and communicating that in a meaningful way that resonates with that individual.
- Even as we're disclosing the result, we're trying to assess and understand how that information might be perceived, because if we can help you adapt to that information, then you will be empowered to make those meaningful changes that are consistent for you.
- The Cancer Center and The Health System as a whole are taking genetics not just into oncology, but cardiology and looking at the need across many different roles.
- We have genes that have genetic changes that significantly increase your risk like with the BRCA, and then you have others in which multiple different changes cumulatively increase. I see it as like a buffet menu with many different options and depending on what you get from that buffet, it changes your outcome and what you eat and how you develop.
Katie Nelson, genetic counselor, The University of Kansas Health System
- My role with Vicki was to recommend additional testing to be able to confirm what was causing this abnormal genetic test and what other testing can help figure out what was the actual concern.
- Being able to take that initial step with Vicki and telling her there is some other testing that we can do to help answer this question was reassuring.
- All information is good information, because it tells us how to take care of you and your family better. Doing genetic testing can help your kids protect themselves in equipping them with this information so that they can take those steps with their healthcare provider and make sure that they're getting the correct screening to better monitor or prevent cancer risk.
- I also work with the Center of Genetic Services and Health Equity, providing care to community hospitals, specifically, the KC Care Clinic, and offering individuals free genetic counseling and testing to underserved populations.
- We have great community engagement on both the Missouri and Kansas side to get individuals not only the genetic counseling and testing service, but also follow up care what our resources in their area to actually get the screening that they may need, because it doesn't just end with this with a test.
COVID Updates
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- The hospital COVID count for this week is at 18 inpatients, which is in line with 15 inpatients last week.
- Overall influenza activity around the nation is decreasing, but certainly in some regions there is also stable or slightly increased activity compared to the rest of the nation.
- Stay with the CDC guidance on the recommended number of COVID doses. If you are immune compromised and you received your updated COVID vaccine at least eight weeks ago, you can get that second dose.
- If you are over 65 and you have received the updated COVID vaccine at least four months ago, it is recommended that you get that next dose as well.
Friday, Mar. 8 at 8 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Learn more about how Mona Lisa laser treatment helps menopause patients facing severe symptoms.
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