Identifications of Similarity Metrics for Patients With Cancer: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Understanding the similarities of patients with cancer is essential to advancing personalized medicine, improving patient outcomes, and developing more effective and individualized treatments. It enables researchers to discover important patterns, biomarkers, and treatment strategies that can have a significant impact on cancer research and oncology. In addition, the identification of previously successfully treated patients supports oncologists in making treatment decisions for a new patient who is clinically or molecularly similar to the previous patient.

[Financial Influence on Medical Decisions in Germany - A Review of the Reasons and State of Research on Economization in Inpatient Care].

Increased economization in the German health care system may have an impact on medical decisions. A selective literature search presents an overview of the current evidence on the influence of financial incentives on inpatient healthcare in Germany. Due to the current economic pressure, physicians increasingly feel subjected to financial constraints concerning indication and treatment decisions.

Systematic symptom screening in patients with advanced cancer treated in certified oncology centers: results of the prospective multicenter German KeSBa project.

Purpose: Guidelines recommend a structured symptom screening (SC) for especially advanced cancer patients (CPs). The aim of this multicenter German prospective quality assurance project KeSBa (Kennzahl Symptom- und Belastungserfassung) was to gain knowledge on SC procedures in Oncology Centers (OCs) for advanced cancer patients and a first impression on the consequences of SC.

Methods: The KeSBa project consisted of three phases: pilot, 3 months screening and feedback phase.

Administration of chemotherapy by an arteriovenous fistula in a patient with metastatic rectal cancer after life-threatening, port thrombosis-associated cava superior syndrome. An option for patients without possibility of peripheral or central venous access.

Background: Patients with solid tumors have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, potentially related to a venous port system. In case of catheter-related thrombosis despite full anticoagulation, further treatment administration is difficult.

Case Report: A 41-year-old female patient with a K-Ras wild-type adenocarcinoma of the rectum was diagnosed with systemic disease in June 2008 after several local recurrences treated with surgery and additive chemotherapy.

Adjuvant therapy for early colon cancer: current status.

Adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of the primary tumour reduces the risk of death by an absolute 5% in UICC (Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) stage II colon cancer and about 15-20% in stage III. Adjuvant treatment has to be evaluated separately for each stage due to the different clinical situations: in stage II about 80% of patients are cured by surgery alone, whereas only about half of patients with stage III are cured by surgery. Decisions on adjuvant treatment need to be discussed with the patient on an individual basis, and take into account patient characteristics (performance status, age, co-morbidity and patient preference) as well as cancer features (pathological stage, grading and overall risk of relapse).