Introduction Malignancies of the head and neck can be challenging to manage due to the frequent involvement of the mucosal surfaces of the aerodigestive surfaces causing bleeding, airway obstruction, pain, malnutrition, and impaired communication abilities. Toxicity and impairment caused by…
Background Palliative radiotherapy (RT) is frequently recommended for the treatment of cancer progression within the central nervous system (CNS). The most common indications for palliative RT to this region include brain metastases, spinal metastases, spinal cord compression, leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, and…
Introduction Radiation-induced skin reaction (RISR), or radiation dermatitis, is one of the most common side effects of radiation therapy (RT). RISR can vary in severity, impact the quality of life (QoL), and limit the extent of treatment tolerance by patients.…
Introduction Symptom control increasingly is recognized as an important component in the multidisciplinary management of cancer patients, as it allows for the successful completion of treatment and improves the quality of life (QoL) throughout the course of the disease. Fatigue…
Pain is highly prevalent in the oncology patient population, estimated to be more than 70% in advanced stages of disease. Pain is not necessarily associated with lower survival odds in patients with advanced cancer, but it does impact the overall…
Palliative care (PC) principles apply to many symptoms and situations. In many patients with a number of underlying conditions, symptoms can vary markedly and range from physical to psychological to spiritual. In this chapter, we will attempt to offer a…
Introduction Many countries are in the early stages of a major demographic shift, stemming from the so-called “baby boomers” coming of age and thus an increasingly older population. This has clear implications for clinical practice, as age is the number…
Introduction Halsted et al. theorized that there was an orderly, contiguous, and stepwise mechanism for the spread of cancer within the body, extending from the primary tumor to the lymphatic system, lymph nodes, and ultimately, distant sites. , This theory…
An estimated 40% of cancer patients are diagnosed with spinal bone metastases (SBM), which can result in significant morbidity including pain, neurologic compromise, fracture, and spinal cord compression. Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) develops in approximately 5% of cancer patients…
Indications for palliative radiation The most common indication for palliative radiation to the brain, brain metastases are a very common occurrence in the contemporary management of oncology patients, representing the most common brain tumor in adults and outnumbering primary brain…