Magyar onkologia
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Breast screening programs along with advances in diagnostic methods and oncologic treatment have resulted in full recovery for a decisive number of patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. The results of the ultra-radical-, followed by the breast conserving era pose new opportunities and challenges for the oncologic breast surgeon. ⋯ Modern procedures differ both in concept and technique from that of traditional breast surgery. This paper provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of reconstructive and oncoplastic breast surgery.
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In several large adjuvant clinical trials it has been demonstrated that substitution (eventually addition) of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) provides an improved outcome of endocrine-sensitive breast cancer over tamoxifen alone. Nevertheless, arthralgia induced by the AIs is one of the most frequent side effects in hormonal therapy. ⋯ AI-related arthralgia may be related to estrogen deprivation, but estrogen replacement is not an option for these women. Therefore standard painkillers, NSAIDs (COX2 inhibitors), week opioids and other interventions (vitamin D, calcium, bisphosphonates, exercise, acupuncture, complementary and alternative approaches, eventually switch to another endocrine drug) are used for managing this treatment-related side effect, and improve adherence and quality of life among breast cancer survivors.
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Besides more conventional tumor risks, depression and negative life events are significant risk factors in cancer here in Hungary, therefore oncopsychology is increasingly important. We discuss traumatizing effects of the diagnosis and invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures from the viewpoint of altered state of consciousness. During stress and hypnosis brain functioning is altered in a similar way, which can be seen both in the patient's symptoms and his/her physiological and neuroimaging findings. ⋯ These interactions affect the endocrine and immune system and the mental state of the patient, they strengthen and synchronize resources and help posttraumatic growth. Since in the stress induced spontaneous altered state of consciousness the susceptibility to suggestions is increased, suggestive communication can be used effectively and it can even result in formal hypnosis induction. Under the strong time and mental pressure characterizing the work of the oncologic departments, it might help the staff to improve the cooperation with the patient if staff members, physicians and nurses as well, are aware of the nature and the neurophysiologic background of the spontaneous trance state induced by the life-threatening diagnosis of cancer.
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HER2 is overexpressed in 20-25% of breast cancers and is associated with an aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis. Lapatinib is a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor selective for inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR1/ErbB1) and HER2/ErbB2. Having more targets, probably its antitumor activity could be more efficient. ⋯ In a pivotal phase III trial, a combination of lapatinib and capecitabine almost doubled time to disease progression when compared to capecitabine alone (8.4 vs. 4.1 months) in women with HER2/ErbB2-positive advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclin, taxanes and trastuzumab. The overall survival was 15.6 vs. 15.4 months. Several clinical trials that explore the efficacy of lapatinib in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, hormone therapy and other target therapies are ongoing in advanced breast cancer or in neo-adjuvant and adjuvant settings.
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Chemotherapy options of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have been progressed rapidly in the last years. Besides of the standard fluorouracil/folinic acid treatment some new active agents (oxaliplatin and irinotecan) have been introduced, and more recently the "targeted" biologicals (bevacizumab, cetuximab, panitumumab) have demonstrated their high effectiveness. This review summarizes the development of the first line treatment of mCRC.