USA Patient Network

02/16/2026

This Presidents Day, USAPN celebrates the leaders who have championed public health, advanced healthcare access, and protected patients across the nation. From creating agencies and programs that fight disease, to supporting medical research and preventive care, these presidents have shaped a healthier future for all Americans.

At USAPN, we recognize that strong leadership matters in healthcare — and that the work of protecting patients continues every day.

💡 Let’s take a moment to appreciate the vision, dedication, and courage of some of those who put the health of the American people at the forefront.

💡 Public health and patient care have always crossed party lines, and some legacies remind us that protecting the health of the American people is a shared responsibility.

02/15/2026

🫁 Experts Call for Expanded Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility

Lung cancer specialists are pushing for broader criteria for screening because current guidelines may miss people who are truly at risk. Right now, most recommendations focus on age and smoking history, but researchers point out that other factors — like family history, previous cancers, and race — also influence lung cancer risk.

Doctors emphasize that early detection saves lives — when lung cancer is found sooner, treatment is more effective and survival is significantly higher. Multidisciplinary teams are also using new technologies and risk tools to identify those most likely to benefit from screening, including advanced risk prediction models and minimally invasive scans.

Experts say that expanding who qualifies for *lung cancer screening — beyond traditional smoking criteria — is essential to ensure more people at risk are identified early and receive timely, potentially life‑saving care.



https://www.onclive.com/view/experts-call-for-expanded-lung-cancer-screening-eligibility-criteria?utm

02/15/2026

🌱 Protecting Wisconsin Communities & the Environment

Senator Chris Larson and Representative Darrin Madison have introduced the Data Center Pause Act to halt new large-scale AI data centers in Wisconsin until proper safeguards are in place.

Why it matters:

Data centers use massive amounts of energy and water, impacting local communities and the environment.

Transparency and accountability from corporations are crucial before new projects move forward.

Voters from both parties agree: the risks often outweigh the benefits.

This bill ensures that community voices and environmental health come first, before profit-driven development.

It’s not us, Data Centers, it’s you. Until you learn to pay your own way, prevent harm to our environment, and be more transparent in your dealings with local communities, we’re gonna have to put you on pause.

Today, I proudly joined my colleague Representative Darrin Madison and community stakeholders in introducing the Data Center Pause Act, which would halt new large-scale data centers in WI until a series of safeguards are put into place.

This issue cuts across party lines, with majorities of voters from both parties saying that the downsides of AI Data Centers outweigh the benefits.

02/14/2026

📣 FDA Approves New Device Option for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Optune Pax®, a wearable medical device that uses Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) — low‑intensity, alternating electrical fields — to treat adults with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma when used alongside standard chemotherapy (gemcitabine + nab‑paclitaxel).

✨ What is Optune Pax?
• A portable, non‑invasive device worn on the abdomen that delivers electrical fields designed to disrupt cancer cell division while sparing normal tissue.
• Patients can wear the device during daily activities while receiving treatment at home.

📊 Clinical Evidence from the Phase III PANOVA‑3 Trial
The FDA decision was based on results from the PANOVA‑3 randomized clinical trial:
• Median Overall Survival (mOS):
▫ 16.2 months for patients receiving Optune Pax + chemotherapy
▫ 14.2 months for chemotherapy alone — a statistically significant ~2‑month improvement.
• 1‑Year Survival Rate: Higher in the group using TTFields with chemotherapy.
• Secondary Results: Improvements in measures such as pain progression delay and some quality‑of‑life endpoints were seen in trial data.

📌 Safety Notes & Side Effects
• Systemic side effects (like those from chemotherapy) were similar between groups.
• Most common device‑related effects involved skin reactions at the patch sites.

📍 Context about Pancreatic Cancer
• Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates among major cancers and few new treatment options have been FDA‑approved for locally advanced disease in nearly 30 years.

🔎 What This Means
This approval gives clinicians and patients an additional treatment strategy supported by clinical trial evidence showing a meaningful but modest improvement in survival when added to standard chemotherapy. It is not a cure, and benefits may vary by individual.

💡 U.S. Patient Network (USAPN) does not endorse specific treatments. This post is informational and based on published clinical data and regulatory announcements.

Learn more about the newly approved wearable treatment that disrupts pancreatic cancer tumor growth while letting patients continue daily life at home.

02/14/2026

💖 Happy Valentine’s Day from USAPN! 💖

Today is about love, care, and connection — and that includes taking care of yourself and your health. Whether it’s scheduling a check-up, supporting a loved one through treatment, or simply practicing self-care, love starts with looking after your well-being.

This Valentine’s Day, let’s remember: health is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and others.

02/13/2026

🚨 Congress Rejects Trump’s $33 Billion Health & Human Services Cuts

On February 6, 2026, Congress passed a major funding bill that rejected President Trump’s proposed $33 billion cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Instead of slashing funding, lawmakers from both parties preserved or increased support for critical health agencies and lifesaving programs.

📉 What was proposed:
President Trump’s budget plan called for deep reductions, including:
• Roughly $18 billion cut to the NIH (National Institutes of Health)
• About $3.6 billion cut from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• More than $1 billion from mental health and substance abuse programs
• Elimination of the LIHEAP energy assistance program for low‑income households

🤝 What Congress did:
Rather than implementing these cuts, lawmakers:
• Maintained or boosted funding for NIH and CDC programs
• Protected public health initiatives, research, and disease prevention efforts
• Delivered a bipartisan message that public health matters across the political spectrum

🎯 Why it matters:
This bill ensures continued support for medical research, disease prevention, mental health services, and health equity programs that affect millions of Americans — especially at a time when health needs are growing.

✅ Bottom line: Congress stood firm on February 6, 2026 in rejecting drastic cuts and safeguarding key health investments for the year ahead.

02/12/2026

⚠️ Methotrexate Safety Reminder: Avoid Overdose

Health authorities are reminding patients and healthcare providers that oral methotrexate for inflammatory diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis) must be taken once a week on the same day. Taking it more often can cause serious, potentially fatal side effects.

Most accidental overdoses happen when patients take methotrexate daily instead of weekly, often due to misunderstandings or prescribing/dispensing errors. For some cancers, dosing is higher and more frequent — but the weekly schedule is critical for inflammatory conditions.

✅ Tips for safe use:

Take methotrexate exactly as prescribed.

Always follow the weekly schedule for inflammatory diseases.

Check packaging for warning labels.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you’re unsure.

Patient safety is our top priority — always double-check your dosing and stay informed.