Aging, Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Dermatology, Frailty, JAMA / 08.09.2021
Basal Cell Skin Cancer: Watchful Waiting Better for Some Frail, Elderly Patients
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_58071" align="alignleft" width="225"]
Dr. van Winden[/caption]
Marieke van Winden MD MSc
PhD candidate Dermatology
Radboud Institute for Health Sciences
Department of Dermatology
Radboud University Medical Center
Nijmegen, the Netherlands
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What underlying conditions would factor in a decision for Watchful Waiting?
Response: Basal cell carcinomas are frequently treated because of the risk for progression, which can cause a significant morbidity due to local tissue invasion and destruction. However, most BCCs are characterized by a relatively indolent nature, growing slowly and frequently asymptomatically.
Because patients with a limited life expectancy might not live long enough to develop symptoms from basal cell carcinoma progression, they might not live long enough to benefit from treatment. Underlying conditions that determine life expectancy should therefore be considered when weighing BCC management options. When life expectancy is expected to be relatively short, and the consequences of watchful waiting (WW) are relatively low risk (low tumor burden expected within the remaining lifespan), WW should be considered.
Dr. van Winden[/caption]
Marieke van Winden MD MSc
PhD candidate Dermatology
Radboud Institute for Health Sciences
Department of Dermatology
Radboud University Medical Center
Nijmegen, the Netherlands
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What underlying conditions would factor in a decision for Watchful Waiting?
Response: Basal cell carcinomas are frequently treated because of the risk for progression, which can cause a significant morbidity due to local tissue invasion and destruction. However, most BCCs are characterized by a relatively indolent nature, growing slowly and frequently asymptomatically.
Because patients with a limited life expectancy might not live long enough to develop symptoms from basal cell carcinoma progression, they might not live long enough to benefit from treatment. Underlying conditions that determine life expectancy should therefore be considered when weighing BCC management options. When life expectancy is expected to be relatively short, and the consequences of watchful waiting (WW) are relatively low risk (low tumor burden expected within the remaining lifespan), WW should be considered.
Amanda Paluch, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Department of Kinesiology
Institute for Applied Life Sciences
Life Science Laboratories
Amherst, MA 01003
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: We wanted to understand the association of total steps per day with premature mortality among middle-aged, Black and White women and men. This study included 2110 adults; age 38-50 years old at the start of this study. These adults wore a step counting device for one week and then followed for death from any cause over the next 10 years.
Dr. Chien-Wen Tseng[/caption]
Chien-Wen Tseng, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.E.E.
The Hawaii Medical Service Association Endowed Chair
Health Services and Quality Research
Professor, and Associate Research Director
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Age-related hearing loss cannot be reversed and can be a significant problem for older adults. Four out of 10 adults who are age 70 and older report hearing loss and it can worsen isolation, cognitive decline, and quality of life, as well as interfere with someone’s ability to live independently. There are simple screening tests to detect hearing loss, so the Task Force did an extensive review of whether there are health benefits to screening for hearing loss in people who do not have symptoms before they notice any hearing problems.
The Task Force determined that there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against screening for hearing loss in adults who are age 50 and older and do not have signs or symptoms of hearing loss. This is an I statement.
Dr. Rosi[/caption]
Susanna Rosi, Ph.D.
Lewis and Ruth Cozen Chair II
Prof.l Tower[/caption]
John Gerard Tower
Professor of biological sciences
University of Southern California
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid drug that is used in humans for birth control and as a treatment for Cushing’s disease, and is currently in clinical trials as an anti-cancer treatment.
We have previously shown that mifepristone dramatically increases the life span of mated female Drosophila flies.



