Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN
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The involvement of axillary nodes remains a significant prognostic factor in breast cancer. However, management has changed from complete surgical staging to sentinel lymph node biopsies. ⋯ This article focuses on the examination of recent evidence in management of the axilla. It focuses on both the prognostic and therapeutic information gleaned from isolated tumor cells and micrometastatic disease and on the use of completion axillary lymph node dissections or axillary radiation in preventing regional recurrence.
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Collecting data is time-consuming and expensive. Electronic transactions, including electronic medical records and the unification of many billing procedures, have transformed the rate at which data are able to be extracted. Although obstacles remain, the rate at which data are de-identified, collected, and aggregated will help improve safety and standards of care for oncology patients. Everyone participating in the care of oncology patients must understand how important data are as the quality initiatives and performance metrics are numerous and growing; these initiatives cannot be successful without timely, accurate, and quantifiable data that address the continuum of oncology care.