Communicating with realism and hope: incurable cancer patients' views on the disclosure of prognosis.

Purpose: To identify preferences for the process of prognostic discussion among patients with incurable metastatic cancer and variables associated with those preferences.

Patients And Methods: One hundred twenty-six (58%) of 218 patients invited onto the study participated. Eligible patients were the consecutive metastatic cancer patients of 30 oncologists, who were diagnosed within 6 weeks to 6 months before recruitment, over 18 years of age, and without known mental illness.

Long-term review of a breast conservation series and patterns of care over 18 years.

Background: Multiple randomized trials of breast conservation compared with mastectomy in early breast cancer have validated equivalence of survival. Overwhelmingly the standard management of breast conservation includes surgical removal of the tumour, axillary dissection, postoperative breast irradiation, and adjuvant systemic therapy as appropriate. The outcomes are reviewed of 832 women with early breast cancer treated by local resection and irradiation at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital over an 18 year period, with particular emphasis on the changing patterns of practice.