In a nutshell This study compared weak opioids and low-dose morphine in providing pain relief for moderate cancer pain. Researchers concluded that low-dose morphine is more suitable as pain management for moderate cancer pain than weaker pain relievers. Some background The guidelines for cancer pain relief developed by the World Health...
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In a nutshell This study examined the potential benefit of early hormone therapy added to intensive radiotherapy in the treatment of men with intermediate-risk local prostate cancer. Overall survival was found to be improved with higher radiation dosage. However, the researchers noted that early hormone therapy does generally not benefit treatment...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of toremifene (Fareston) and raloxifene (Evista) when added to hormone therapy in prostate cancer patients who had not received previous treatments. The authors concluded that toremifene and hormone therapy significantly improved the rate of biochemical recurrence (BCR, a rise in prostate...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of docetaxel (Taxotere – a type of chemotherapy) and hormone therapy in patients with metastatic (cancer that has spread) prostate cancer. Some background Chemotherapy and hormone therapy are common treatments used in prostate cancer. Chemotherapy drugs, such as docetaxel, target cancer...
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In a nutshell This study explored factors that could predict disease progression following chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. The authors found that while survival rates were excellent following treatment, patients with faster-growing tumors and those with the luminal B/HER negative or triple negative subtypes had a higher risk of disease...
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In a nutshell This review analyzed the effectiveness of combined surgery and chemotherapy for colorectal cancer which has spread to the wall of the abdomen. Some background Many colorectal cancer patients are diagnosed after the cancer has already spread. Cancer that has spread to the peritoneum (the abdominal wall) is termed “colorectal...
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In a nutshell This study compared the effectiveness of ibandronate (Boniva) with the more conventional radiotherapy in reducing metastatic bone pain in prostate cancer. Some background Bone metastasis (cancer spread to the bone) is a common and painful occurrence in prostate cancer. There are a range of treatments available, with radiotherapy...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study examined the efficacy of including an anti-inflammatory hormone, prednisolone (Orapred), with the chemotherapy drug docetaxel (Taxotere) in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The study concluded that prednisolone led to a decrease in specific adverse side effects of this type of...
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In a nutshell This study compared the effectiveness of oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU Oncofluor, Fluorblastin) as post-surgery treatment for patients with rectal cancer. Some background The standard treatment for rectal cancer is chemotherapy and radiation therapy before surgery. The effectiveness of post-surgery...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate the benefit of reducing the dosage of bisphosphonate therapy (such as Fosamax or Reclast) for women with bone metastasis (the original cancer has spread to the bones). Some background Bisphosphonate therapy is a treatment used to prevent the loss of bone mass. Women who have developed bone...
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In a nutshell The authors analyzed the patterns of relapse in patients with head and neck melanoma treated with surgery and radiation therapy. Some background Skin melanoma of head and neck is often associated with poor survival. Surgical removal of the affected lymph nodes (tiny, bean-shaped organ that help fight infection) along with the...
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In a nutshell This study compared the disease-free survival rates of patients who had a complete mesocolic excision with patients who had conventional surgery for treatment of colon cancer. Some background Patients with rectal cancer have higher survival rates than colon cancer patients. This is in part due to the type of surgery carried out. Many...
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