Quality of life in patients surviving at least 12 months following high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow support.

Background: Over the past decade, high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow (HDC-ABMT) support has been used increasingly in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. In evaluating the results of HDC-ABMT in patients with breast cancer, an assessment of quality of life can add to the traditional endpoints (toxicity, and disease-free and overall survival) that are routinely assessed in clinical trials.

Purpose: This study evaluated the quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients who had survived 1 or more years following high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplant (HDC-ABMT) support.

Silicone controversy: a survey of women with breast cancer and silicone implants.

Background: During the past 3 years, there has been a highly publicized debate concerning the potential medical complications of silicone breast implants. There have been no studies that have addressed the effect of this controversy on women with a history of breast cancer who have undergone breast reconstruction with silicone implants.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to understand the concerns of such women regarding their breast reconstructions and to assess what impact the silicone implant controversy had on them.

Efficacy of a combined treatment with plasma exchange and cytostatics in macroglobulinemia.

Monthly plasma exchange (PE) sessions have been carried out in 3 patients with advanced Waldenström macroglobulinemia, in order to reduce electrophoretic M band under 2g/100 ml. When PE was combined to low doses of cytostatics (n = 18), 3 procedures per session were required to obtain a mean 57.4 +/- 12.