Algorithms are increasingly being put to work alongside radiologists and pathologists to help detect and diagnose cancers.
Why it matters: AI developers say these tools can help relieve a stressed health care system and improve critical medical decision-making, but experts caution about the risk of overdiagnosis that could drive up health spending and bring the possibility of unnecessary, risky biopsies.
Health disparities among cancer patients — a known ongoing issue in America — were exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.
The latest: A study out earlier this week of 3,506 cancer patients shows "significantly higher COVID-19 severity" among African American than white cancer patients, bolstering similar findings from an earlier 2020 study of 73.4 million electronic health records.
Particularly common among cancer patients, "financial toxicity" is a term that's used to describe the financial strain of paying for expensive medical care. Financial planners may be the solution.
Why it matters: Patients that received financial guidance or financial assistance have a higher survival rate, according to a 2020 research study — meaning relieving crushing financial burdens may have also improved their medical outcomes.
The pandemic disrupted cancer treatments for millions of Americans, but it led health care providers to speed up efforts to shift care from hospitals and clinics to patients' homes.
Why it matters: Cancer patients at higher risk for infections and other complications could benefit from therapy and testing at home — and the care delivered in less intensive settings could also be cheaper.
Death rates for many individual cancer types, such as melanoma, have seen historic drops in the last decade.
At the same time, a few cancers like pancreatic cancer have remained stubbornly unchanged. Others like colorectal cancer have even seen worrisome increases.
CIA Director Bill Burns is the latest person to come down with the coronavirus after being in contact with President Biden.
Why it matters: Although mask and other mandates are receding throughout the country, the risk of the leader of the free world contracting COVID-19 looms. Burns tested positive on Thursday, a day after meeting with Biden.
