Cancer Survivors

Breast Cancer Follow-UP – pro

It has now been well established that routine scans are not useful in follow-up care of breast cancer survivors. Guidelines recommend that all patients who have completed primary treatment for breast cancer should have regular follow-up surveillance consisting of medical history, physical examination and annual mammograms. It was also recommended that the frequency of visits be adjusted according to the individual patient's needs, that patients be

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Hereditary Colon Cancer tests – pro

Lay Summary: Testing for the colon cancer gene and its role and appropriate use is described. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) usually occurs in patients younger than age 45 and can result in the development of cancers in a variety of tissues, such as the colon, rectum, endometrium, stomach, ovaries, brain, and skin. A major genetic characteristic of HNPCC tumors is microsatellite instability (MSI). Microsatellites are short repeated

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Photopheresis for graft versus host disease – pro

The use of photopheresis or Extra Corporeal Perfusion (ECP) as a treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after a prior allogeneic stem cell transplant is based on the fact that GVHD is similar to autoimmune disease in that it too is an immunologically mediated disease. Chronic GVHD typically presents with more diverse symptomatology resembling autoimmune diseases such as progressive systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or rheumatoid

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Caverject for impotence due to prostate cancer treatment – pro

Caverject is the first prescription drug approved for impotence.  A hormone-like element, Alprostadil has been shown to enhance the blood circulation through the process of expanding the blood vessels. It is naturally found in the human body and therefore ensures that blood is kept flowing. When saturated at the region around the penis it will induce an erection and maintain it for some time. From 5 to 20 minutes of taking effect, it may last for

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E0650 vasopneumatic compressor for postoperative rehabilitation – pro

Lay Summary: I review a specific technology for physical therapy. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) hasbeen used to treat acute and chronic injury and assist in orthopedic surgery rehabilitation.  Game Ready System simultaneously delivers both adjustable cold therapy and intermittent compression, to apply the two  aspects of the RICE regimen. Cold compression therapy combines two of the principles of R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)

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Followup of Resected Gastric Cancer – pro

Patients with early gastric cancer have an excellent prognosis after appropriate treatment, with a high survival rate and a low rate of recurrence.There are no guidelines as to how to follow gastric cancer. A recent review concluded: " Early detection of asymptomatic gastric cancer recurrence did not improve overall survival of patients with recurrence after curative resection. Until development of more effective treatment for this disease, close

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Adjuvant Biphosphonates for Breast Cancer – pro

The bisphosphonate Zometa is approved for the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy, as well as the treatment of documented bone metastases from solid tumors or multiple myeloma, in conjunction with antineoplastic therapy. Research has indicated that Zometa may have properties that lend to direct antineoplastic effects, an issue that is being explored in studies at present. Researchers also continue to evaluate Zometa in early stages of various

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