Hematology/oncology clinics of North America
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The most frequent site of organ involvement in individuals with any form of mastocytosis is the skin. Cutaneous lesions include urticaria pigmentosa, mastocytoma, diffuse and erythematous cutaneous mastocytosis, and telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans. The major histologic feature is an increase in the number of mast cells in the dermis. Treatment depends on the type of skin lesions.
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Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2000
ReviewChemoprevention of breast cancer in the older patient.
Age is the most important risk factor for the development of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer continues to increase in American women until the age of 80 years. A family history of breast cancer helps identify those who possibly have the highest risk of developing breast cancer; however, most women who develop breast cancer do not have a first-degree relative with a history of breast cancer. ⋯ It is now being used in combination with tamoxifin in a phase II breast cancer prevention trial. Multiple surrogate endpoint biomarkers are being measured before and after treatment, including measurement of serum IGF-I levels. Future directions in breast cancer prevention include the development of more potent hormonal therapies that completely inhibit ER-mediated cancer progression and, ultimately, multitargeted therapies involving agents that work synergistically.
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Brachytherapy delivers high doses of radiation to brain tumors while sparing normal surrounding tissue. It may be used as a primary treatment, an adjuvant treatment, or as therapy for recurrence of some malignant gliomas, low-grade astrocytomas, meningiomas, metastases, and pediatric brain tumors. ⋯ Although radiosurgery is supplanting brachytherapy for many indications, brachytherapy remains a viable option. This article discusses the radiobiology, procedures, clinical applications, and outcomes of brachytherapy in managing brain tumors.
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Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. · Jun 1997
Review Comparative StudyLung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The application of current knowledge and technology could dramatically improve the survival rate in both lung cancer and COPD, even before physicians and other health workers are finally able to convince the population that both personal and environmental tobacco smoke must be eliminated to begin to reduce the premature morbidity and mortality from lung cancer, airflow obstruction, and other smoking-related diseases such as heart attack and stroke.
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Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. · Apr 1997
ReviewTobacco control: a brief review of its history and prospects for the future.
Smoking prevalence among American adults is at its lowest point in the last 30 years, and there is unprecedented popular support for tobacco control measures. The financial resources to carry on the battle for tobacco control are still heavily stacked in favor of the industry, which by current estimates is worth $45 billion, including $6 billion spent each year on advertising and promotion alone. Nonetheless, industry executives must realize that, even if they can win individual battles, they are losing the war. ⋯ The FDA has faced relentless attacks by the tobacco industry, and it will continue to be a target. Public health advocates and health care providers have a critical role to play in the FDA's efforts to bring this issue to fruition. If the public health community fails to support this initiative and create an active and forceful opposition to the industry's efforts to derail it, it is likely that the impact on tobacco control efforts will be resounding and far-reaching.