Sharon Worcester is an award-winning medical journalist for MDedge News. She has been with the company since 1996, first as the Southeast Bureau Chief (1996-2009) when the company was known as International Medical News Group, then as a freelance writer (2010-2015) before returning as a reporter in 2015. She previously worked as a daily newspaper reporter covering health and local government. Sharon currently reports primarily on oncology and hematology. She has a BA from Eckerd College and an MA in Mass Communication/Print Journalism from the University of Florida. Connect with her via LinkedIn and follow her on twitter @SW_MedReporter.
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Global pediatric oncology workforce hit hard, but resilient amid pandemic
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Half of participating institutions experienced staffing shortages that had a “major impact” on pediatric cancer care.
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Some U.S. women not getting ET for curable breast cancer
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Half of breast cancer patients eligible for endocrine therapy are not receiving tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors.
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One in five female oncologists considering leaving academia, survey finds
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
“There are many indications that women are leaving medicine in disproportionately high numbers,” said Dr. Julie Silver.
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Most cancer patients with breakthrough COVID-19 infection experience severe outcomes
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Of 54 fully vaccinated patients with cancer and COVID-19, 65% were hospitalized and 13% died within 30 days.
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High-fiber diet may improve melanoma immunotherapy response, outcomes
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Previous research has suggested that the microbiome can influence patients’ response to immunotherapy.
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Cardiovascular effects of breast cancer treatment vary based on weight, menopausal status
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
The risk of dyslipidemia was higher in postmenopausal aromatase inhibitors users and lower in postmenopausal tamoxifen users, compared with...
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Ongoing HER2 breast cancer therapy may cost an additional $68,000 per patient
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
A Canadian study suggests that significant increases in cost per patient can be expected if funding policies don’t evolve to meet treatment needs...
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Customizing pre-CAR T chemotherapy could improve ALL patient outcomes
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Findings suggest a way to reduce relapses in patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy: Tailor pre-CAR T lymphodepleting therapy.
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FDA expands pembrolizumab approval for advanced melanoma
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Approval was based on first interim findings from the randomized, placebo-controlled KEYNOTE-716 trial, which evaluated patients with stage IIB...
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CLL and COVID-19: Outcome trends and lessons learned
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Data highlight opportunities for further investigation into optimal management of COVID-19, immune response after infection, and effective...
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Differences in response to immunotherapy in men versus women
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
It remains unclear whether the increased risk for death in women is a result of treatment side effects or lack of efficacy.
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Single-dose HPV vaccination highly effective
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Women have been given multiple doses of the HPV vaccine because of “gaps in evidence for the effectiveness of a...
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Easing access to DLBCL treatments: Patient study reveals racial differences
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Collaborative follow-up models could improve access to cellular therapies, but more customized strategies are also needed.
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Most oncology trainees encounter discrimination, don’t report it, survey finds
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
“I thought at some point [the racism and discrimination] would stop, but after all that training. . .I still had to prove myself.”
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Cancer drug revenue increased 70% over a decade
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
“Cancer drugs now account for approximately 27% of new drug approvals in the United States, compared to 4% in the 1980s.”