The rising rate of obesity has beena topic in the news for quite a while,but the association of overweight/obesity with cancer is just now reachingthe tipping point of awareness.Studies have shown, as outlined in ourcover story on the issue, an associationbetween overweight/obesity anda number of cancers. This issue andthe significant health problems associatedwith it (e.g., heart disease, diabetes,hypertension) affect the entirecancer spectrum from prevention totreatment to survivorship.
The problem has grown in such severitythat some see obesity as the newtobacco, with the potential to reversethe gains we have collectively madein the fight against cancer over thepast 50 years. Yet, it’s a delicate topic.Advising people to quit smoking is challenging;advising patients under greatduress to make significant lifestylechanges regarding food intake andexercise are new hurdles.
ASCO has recognized this and developeda compendium of resourcesto help oncologists help patients byassessing, advising, and referring asneeded. I hope this article will providethe information and inspiration neededto take appropriate action.
Also in this issue, we have an interesting debate on a hot topic—the cost and benefits of robot-assisted radical prostatectomyversus open radical prostatectomy—as well as an insightful profile of ASCO member Dr. JamesAllison, who recently received multipleawards for his discoveries related tocancer immunotherapy treatments.
Our Society is fortunate to have anaccomplished, diverse, and dynamicmembership. As such, we like to featurethe work of as many as we can. In this issue, we talk with Dr. Yi-Long Wu, President of the Chinese Societyof Clinical Oncology; Major Nathan Shumway, a Training Program Directorat the Uniformed Services Universityof Health Sciences; ASCO Board ofDirectors member and world-class fishermanDr. Stephen Grubbs; andJournal of Clinical Oncology Editor-in-Chief Dr. Stephen Cannistra, who alsohappens to be an innovative leader inhis hobby of astrophotography.
We are also pleased to present articlesby and about ASCO’s leadership: ASCOPresident Dr. Peter Yu writes aboutthe role of patient-centered medicalhomes; Immediate Past PresidentDr. Clifford Hudis asks whether theSociety needs a new election process; and President-Elect Dr. Julie Vosediscusses the issues at the top of heragenda for her 2015-2016 term.All of them are interested in yourfeedback. Please consider commentingon these online columns and articles, or email yourfeedback to ascoconnection@asco.org,and we will pass along your message.
As always, thank you for reading.
Reprinted from the September 2014 ASCO Connection "From the Editor" column.
The problem has grown in such severitythat some see obesity as the newtobacco, with the potential to reversethe gains we have collectively madein the fight against cancer over thepast 50 years. Yet, it’s a delicate topic.Advising people to quit smoking is challenging;advising patients under greatduress to make significant lifestylechanges regarding food intake andexercise are new hurdles.
ASCO has recognized this and developeda compendium of resourcesto help oncologists help patients byassessing, advising, and referring asneeded. I hope this article will providethe information and inspiration neededto take appropriate action.
Also in this issue, we have an interesting debate on a hot topic—the cost and benefits of robot-assisted radical prostatectomyversus open radical prostatectomy—as well as an insightful profile of ASCO member Dr. JamesAllison, who recently received multipleawards for his discoveries related tocancer immunotherapy treatments.
Our Society is fortunate to have anaccomplished, diverse, and dynamicmembership. As such, we like to featurethe work of as many as we can. In this issue, we talk with Dr. Yi-Long Wu, President of the Chinese Societyof Clinical Oncology; Major Nathan Shumway, a Training Program Directorat the Uniformed Services Universityof Health Sciences; ASCO Board ofDirectors member and world-class fishermanDr. Stephen Grubbs; andJournal of Clinical Oncology Editor-in-Chief Dr. Stephen Cannistra, who alsohappens to be an innovative leader inhis hobby of astrophotography.
We are also pleased to present articlesby and about ASCO’s leadership: ASCOPresident Dr. Peter Yu writes aboutthe role of patient-centered medicalhomes; Immediate Past PresidentDr. Clifford Hudis asks whether theSociety needs a new election process; and President-Elect Dr. Julie Vosediscusses the issues at the top of heragenda for her 2015-2016 term.All of them are interested in yourfeedback. Please consider commentingon these online columns and articles, or email yourfeedback to ascoconnection@asco.org,and we will pass along your message.
As always, thank you for reading.
Reprinted from the September 2014 ASCO Connection "From the Editor" column.
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