Introduction Lung cancer patients are often diagnosed later in life and at advanced stages of the disease. The treatment of lung cancer often consists of a combination of systemic therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy), radiation therapy, and surgery. These treatments as well…
Introduction Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in both men and women around the world. Given that lung cancer can remain asymptomatic when it presents with a low disease burden in its early stages, it is…
Epidemiology Lung cancer incidence and prevalence trends have evolved due to changes in screening and primary prevention, while early detection and improved treatments increase survivorship. Data from 2012 report that providers are annually diagnosing approximately 1.8 million new cases of…
Introduction ■ Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the top two causes of global mortality, accounting for 46% of deaths worldwide. To complicate matters further, cancer treatment has led to a significant increase in the global incidence of cardiovascular disease. A…
Introduction ■ Radiation is an integral component of many patients’ treatment regimens. The goal of radiation therapy is to deliver a dose to the target while sparing the normal tissue so that the treatment can be well tolerated. Treatment toxicity…
Introduction ■ Radiation dermatitis is one of the earliest known side effects of radiation. Almost all patients receiving radiation therapy have some changes in the skin. Acute and/or chronic skin changes may occur, which may have implications for quality of…
Introduction ■ Oral and esophageal mucosal injuries are inevitable postradiation changes, encountered with daily radiation therapy. Mucositis has remained a morbid side effect of radiation therapy since its first clinical use as an agent effective against cancer. Mucosal injury is…
Introduction Radiotherapy comprises the delivery of ionizing radiation, most commonly in the form of X-rays, for the treatment of malignant or benign neoplasms. Radiotherapy induces DNA damage either through direct ionization or through the generation of intermediary reactive oxygen species.…
Introduction ■ The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy to treat cancer has changed the treatment paradigm for many malignancies. These agents exploit suppressor and regulatory pathways to boost integrated immunity against tumors but are associated with a unique…
Introduction Recent advances in the field of immunotherapy have revolutionized the treatment of cancer and have given hope to patients with cancers that were associated with a poor prognosis. Immune therapies have now been US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved…