Acta Medica Port
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Palliative care in oncology is an interdisciplinary approach, centered on patients and their families, carried out along the course of neoplastic diseases, based on symptom control, assertive communication and shared decision-making. Although clinical guidelines recommend a holistic intervention, early integration of palliative care into traditional oncological treatment, research shows a great delay in referral of patients, restricting palliative care to end-of-life care. ⋯ It is necessary to take measures that encourage oncologists to obtain further training in palliative care, as a formal, compulsory internship, integrated in their specific training program. This way, a new generation of physicians will surely change the lives of cancer patients, and their families, integrating - without disproportionate rationing - oncology and palliative medicine.
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Comment Letter
[Choosing Wisely Portugal: The View of Portuguese Doctors].
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Birth weight is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality and is associated with chronic diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to evaluate the use of Intergrowth 21st instead of the Fenton & Kim 2013 growth charts in the diagnosis of small and large for gestational age in a group of Portuguese newborns. ⋯ Considering the results obtained, we suggest that Portuguese maternity hospitals use the Intergrowth 21st instead of the Fenton & Kim 2013 growth charts. However, more studies are needed to confirm these results.
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Papillary carcinoma of the breast is a rare type of breast malignancy, making up less than 2% of breast cancers, and only some are encapsulated papillary carcinoma. Usually, EPC are low-grade luminal like tumors. The authors report a case of a 50-year-old female with the diagnosis of an unusual high-grade triple negative encapsulated papillary carcinoma with an area of invasive papillary carcinoma and negative axillary lymph nodes. Considering its rarity, the description of this case and its clinical management are important in order to better understand this entity and choose the best clinical approach.