Literature Review

Palliative external beam radiation therapy for dysphagia in a 101-year-old man with esophageal adenocarcinomaCureus; by Pericles J. Ioannides, Jester M. Odrunia, Gina N. Perez, Morgan Butow, Georg A. Weidlich; 1/26Esophageal adenocarcinoma in centenarians is rare, and treatment options in this age group are limited. We present the case of a 101-year-old male patient with symptomatic distal gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who presented with progressive dysphagia, aspiration, and weight loss. The patient underwent palliative external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) ... targeting the obstructive esophageal mass with a margin using volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique. The treatment was well tolerated by the patient with no significant acute toxicity. After treatment, the patient reported clinically meaningful improvement in functional status, with improved swallowing, advancing from liquids to a soft diet, weight gain, and improved QoL. Moderate-dose palliative radiation can be a safe and effective treatment in a centenarian with obstructive GEJ adenocarcinoma, particularly when endoscopic interventions are not successful or durable.

[China] Progress in research on alleviating the symptoms associated with advanced cancer using Traditional Chinese MedicinePain Research & Management; by Chunmeng Jiao, Ting Zhang, Yachen Yang, Ruofan Zhang, Wenbo Liu, Yanqing Wang, Lei Huang; 1/26Advanced cancer continues to pose a substantial global challenge, with complex symptom burdens and limited therapeutic options. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), grounded in holistic theory and the principles of syndrome differentiation, employs interventions such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and acupoint‐based therapies to address both the malignancy and the patient’s overall functional status. Emerging evidence indicates that TCM may alleviate symptom clusters associated with advanced cancer, enhance quality of life, and potentially contribute to improved survival outcomes. This review synthesizes findings from the past decade on the role of TCM in advanced cancer care, with a focus on herbal decoctions, Chinese herbal injections, acupuncture—either alone or in combination with herbal therapy—moxibustion with adjuvant medication, and other external TCM modalities. Evidence is examined regarding their effects on cancer‐related pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal dysfunction, chemotherapy‐ and radiotherapy‐induced toxicities, and immune modulation.

Saturday newsletters focus on headlines and research - enjoy!

Being loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage. ~ Lao Tzu

Florida’s rigid drug policy leaves cancer patients in pain | Column Tampa Bay Times, Tampa, FL; by Deborah Schofield; 2/11/26 Michelle was newly and suddenly diagnosed with stage IV cancer. She had pain every day. And in Florida, that made her suspicious. Despite a terminal diagnosis, ... [when] a prescription for Percocet was finally written, the reality of Florida's system came sharply into focus. Nine pharmacies - major national chains including CVS and Walgreens - told us they did not have the medication and could not say when they would. Nine. ... Eventually, hospice became involved. Only then did Michelle receive more consistent pain control. Yet even hospice was not immune to the system's failures. ... If Florida wants to lead on opioid policy, it must also lead on humanity. That means explicit protections for cancer and hospice patients, clearer regulatory distinctions between acute pain and end-of-life care, and accountability across pharmacy supply chains.

Enhabit and Encompass Health collect $43.1 million from individual defendants in Delaware fiduciary breach case BusinessWire, Dallas, TX; Press Release; 2/12/26 Enhabit, Inc. announced that, along with Encompass Health Corporation, they have collected $43.1 million in full satisfaction of their claims for attorneys’ fees and mitigation damages in the Delaware Court of Chancery against former officer Chris Walker, Vistria Group senior partner David Schuppan, and Nautic Partners managing director Christopher Corey. These claims related to the December 2024 judgment in favor of Enhabit and Encompass Health, finding “egregious breaches of the duty of loyalty” by April Anthony, Luke James, and Walker while serving as senior officers at Encompass Health’s former home health and hospice division, which is now Enhabit. Enhabit and Encompass Health will divide the settlement proceeds substantially equally.

[Global] UCLA report reveals a significant global palliative care gap among children  UCLA Health, Los Angeles, CA; by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - Health Sciences; 2/10/26 Nearly all the world’s 10.6 million children experiencing serious health-related suffering (SHS) live in low- and middle-income countries with little to no access to palliative care specialized care for their illness, according to a comprehensive new report published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. ... The findings reveal a dramatic shift: most children in need of palliative care now live longer with severe, chronic illness, fundamentally changing the type of services needed and extending the duration of these services. ...

Suffolk paramedic students participate in 1st clinical hospice-specific rotation Patch, Westhampton-Hampton Bays, NY; by Lisa Finn; 2/12/26 In a groundbreaking new program, Suffolk County Community College paramedic students have begun participating in New York State’s first hospice-specific clinical rotation at the East End Hospice Kanas Center for Hospice Care in Westhampton Beach. As part of their program training, Suffolk students already complete more than 600 clinical hours in areas that overlap with emergency services, including emergency rooms, labor and delivery, and mental health, officials said. The new initiative introduces an unprecedented focus on hospice care within paramedic education, officials added.

Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service closing its doors but other options are available to those in need Los Alamos Daily Post, Los Alamos, NM; by Kirsten Laskey; 2/12/26 The closure of Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service (LAVNS) on Feb. 20 after more than 50 years of service marks the end of a significant chapter in Los Alamos. However, it is not the end of the story; there are still options available to those who utilized LAVNS’ services. LAVNS Clinical Manager Susan Edwards noted that there are several home health care and hospice options available.Home Health Agencies: La Vida Bella Home Health & Hospice. Presbyterian Home Health. Hospice: Ambercare. Red Willow. Roadrunner Hospice. Del Corazon Hospice.

Unlocking leadership potential: Through self awareness with coach Sherry Winn | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN) / TCNtalks; hosted by Chris Comeaux with Sherry Winn; 2/11/26 In Part One of this conversation, Chris Comeaux is joined by leadership coach, former Olympic athlete, and longtime collegiate coach Sherry Winn for a deeply personal and practical exploration of leadership that begins from the inside out. ... Drawing from her Olympic experience and decades of coaching leaders in sports, healthcare, and corporate environments, Sherry explains why leaders cannot give what they do not have. She emphasizes that personal growth, emotional awareness, and intentional self-reflection are foundational to effective leadership—not optional extras.

[Hong Kong] HKUMed building chatbot for end-of-life comms training MobiHealth News; by Adam Ang; 2/10/26 Powered by conversational AI, the tool aims to plug Hong Kong's palliative care workforce gap – with fewer than one specialist per 100,000 people – as advance medical directive legislation takes effect in May 2026. University of Hong Kong researchers are developing an AI-powered chatbot for training healthcare professionals in facilitating end-of-life communications at scale, ahead of new legislation making advance medical directives legally binding across the city of Hong Kong. 

MedBetterHealth expands into New York with CMS Dementia GUIDE Model through partnership with Continental Home Care Small Businesses in the News, Queens, NY; Press Release; 2/9/26 MedBetterHealth, a leading provider of comprehensive dementia care under the Medicare CMS GUIDE Model (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience), today announced a major expansion of its services into the state of New York through a strategic partnership with Continental Home Care, a New York State licensed and Medicaid-approved home care agency.