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.
News
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.
News
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.
News
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.
News
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...
News
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...
News
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.
News
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...
News
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...
News
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.
News
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...
News
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.
News
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.”
News
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.”
News
Should you tell your doctor that you’re a doctor?
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
“I wouldn’t have treated him differently, but I just could have discussed the procedure with him in more professional terms.”
News
Data from Spain yield new insights on a rare hemophilia
- Author:
- Sharon Worcester
Findings show high rates of antithrombotic use before diagnosis and fatal infections after immunosuppressive therapy starts.