The debate on how to select patients who will respond best to costly drug treatments for aggressive breast cancer now favors fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to measure the HER-2 receptor found in human breast tumors,…
Cancer: A proliferation of cells whose unique trait--loss of normal controls--results in unregulated growth, lack of differentiation, local tissue invasion, and metastasis.
Cancer (malignancy) can develop in any tissue of any organ at any age. Most cancers are potentially curable if detected at an early stage. By performing self-examinations, patients can help recognize early signs of some possible malignancies. Diagnostic testing and therapy are essential for optimal results. When cure or reasonable palliation is likely, physicians must discuss all therapeutic options.
Patients with cancer that is unlikely to be cured need to be informed about what treatment is likely to accomplish and the side effects it may produce. Intensive care may be needed for treatment-related complications. Psychologic support from the physician and the health care team (which may include a psychiatrist and a social worker) helps patients through therapy ...
