Breast Cancer Care Timeliness Framework: A Quality Framework for Cancer Control.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the pathway that women follow for Breast Cancer Care (BCC) and the time intervals from symptom discovery to treatment initiation and to develop a quality matrix framework.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at six tertiary centers in Malaysia. All women with newly diagnosed breast cancer were interviewed, and a medical records review was conducted using a structured questionnaire.

A retrospective study on breast cancer presentation, risk factors, and protective factors in patients with a positive family history of breast cancer.

Women with a positive family history of breast cancer are greatly predisposed to breast cancer development. From January 2007 to December 2016, 1101 patients with a histologically confirmed breast cancer were divided into two groups: patients with and without a positive family history of breast cancer. Variables including age at presentation, ethnicity, tumor size, age at menarche, age at menopause, oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), alcohol intake, smoking, body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus, parity, and breastfeeding were recorded.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and delays in presentation and diagnosis of breast cancer patients in public hospitals in Malaysia.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used among the breast cancer patients in Malaysia. Delays in presentation, diagnosis and treatment have been shown to impact the disease prognosis. There is considerable use of CAM amongst breast cancer patients.

Sentinel Node Biopsy Examination for Breast Cancer in a Routine Laboratory Practice: Results of a Pilot Study.

Background: Examination of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsies provides accurate nodal staging for breast cancer and plays a key role in patient management. Procurement of SLNs and the methods used to process specimens are equally important. Increasing the level of detail in histopathological examination of SLNs increases detection of metastatic tumours but will also increase the burden of busy laboratories and thus may not be carried out routinely.

Novel calcium infusion regimen after parathyroidectomy for renal hyperparathyroidism.

Aim: Calcium infusion is used after parathyroid surgery for renal hyperparathyroidism to treat postoperative hypocalcaemia. We compared a new infusion regimen to one commonly used in Malaysia based on 2003 K/DOQI guidelines.

Methods: Retrospective data on serum calcium and infusion rates was collected from 2011-2015.

Prevertebral soft tissue measurements in thyroid enlargement: the value of lateral neck radiographs.

Background: Measurement of prevertebral soft tissue is commonly used to assess prevertebral abnormalities, such as retropharyngeal abscess or injury to the cervical spine. In the presence of goitres, the widened prevertebral tissue seen on plain lateral neck radiograph may be diagnostic of an enlarged tubercle of Zuckerkandl (ZT), which may be responsible for most pressure symptoms. The aim of this study was to substantiate the value of plain lateral neck radiographs in preoperative demonstration of enlarged ZT.