Cancer investigation
-
Cancer investigation · Jan 2003
ReviewWaiting for the platelet count to rise: negotiating care at the end of life.
Oncologists play a crucial role in enabling patients at the end of life and their families to decide whether the burden of chemotherapy is worth the benefit. Using language that displays their concern for providing ongoing care and that does not mistakenly imply withholding of effective therapies can ease the transition off chemotherapy. Providing accurate, timely prognostic information; exploring patients' hopes, goals, and values; helping them resume meaningful activities; meeting their health care proxies and discussing the advance care plan with them can all enhance the relationship with patients at the end of life and ease fears of abandonment.
-
Cancer investigation · Jan 2003
Clinical TrialVinorelbine and cisplatin for metastatic breast cancer: a salvage regimen in patients progressing after docetaxel and anthracycline treatment.
To assess the antitumor efficacy and safety of a combination of vinorelbine (VNR) and cisplatin in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines and docetaxel. ⋯ This cisplatin/VNR regimen is well tolerated and active in patients who failed anthracyclines and docetaxel treatment. The response rate, TTP, and survival data are high and indicate that cisplatin/VNR may have a place as salvage treatment in this group of patients. If these results can be verified in multi-institutional trials, this combination of drugs would merit investigation as part of a first-line therapy in breast cancer.