Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
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Anthracyclines are a component of breast cancer chemotherapy regimens in both adjuvant and metastatic settings. Anthracycline rechallenge for metastatic disease, for those previously exposed to adjuvant anthracyclines, may not be considered because of concerns about efficacy, tolerability, and cumulative cardiotoxicity. ⋯ PLD plus cyclophosphamide is effective and well tolerated in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have received prior adjuvant anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. The majority of patients experienced a clinical benefit without any significant impact on cardiac function.
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When a child's cancer progresses beyond current treatment capability, the parents are likely to participate in noncurative treatment decision making. One factor that helps parents to make these decisions and remain satisfied with them afterward is deciding as they believe a good parent would decide. Because being a good parent to a child with incurable cancer has not been formally defined, we conducted a descriptive study to develop such a definition. ⋯ The definition and the strategies may be used to guide clinicians in helping parents fulfill the good parent role and take comfort afterward in having acted as a good parent.
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The association between body mass index and breast cancer outcome is controversial. Furthermore, the impact of underweight on breast cancer recurrence and death has not been adequately addressed. ⋯ Our study suggests that underweight should be considered to be a high risk factor for death and recurrence after breast cancer surgery, especially in Asian breast cancer patients.