Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: a retrospective pathway assessment in a regional cancer centre.

Background: The optimal care pathway (OCP) for people with breast cancer provides a framework for investigation and management of patients with breast cancer, with delays previously identified regionally.

Aim: With emphasis on the neoadjuvant pathway, the primary aim of this study was to assess the practicality of implementing the breast cancer OCP timeframes regionally in comparison to nationally referenced standards.

Methods: A retrospective institutional audit was performed for patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer.

Pembrolizumab-induced acute right L5 neuritis unresponsive to steroids.

We present a case of a patient with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma who developed severe right lower limb radicular pain in a L5-S1 dermatomal distribution 5 months into treatment with carboplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab. MRI of the lumbar spine demonstrated contrast enhancement of the right L5 nerve root consistent with neuritis. The patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone 2 mg/kg/day for 3 days, followed by oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day with a slow wean over 6 weeks.