[Evaluation of a support group for children of parents with cancer after 4 years of experience].

Objective: When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, this is a major stress for him and his family. Children are often left out but perceive their parent's distress. This misunderstanding may cause multiple problems for their future.

[Supportive care for people affected by cancer: concept and management].

The concept of continuous and global care is acknowledged today by all as inherent to modern medicine. The supportive care are defined as "all care and supports necessary for ill people, at the same time as specific treatments, along all severe illnesses". This definition integrates as much the field of curative care, cure with possible after-effects as that of palliative care.

[High dose rate brachytherapy: a potentially curative treatment for small invasive T1N0 endobronchial carcinoma and carcinoma in situ].

Introduction: High dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) is an option for treatment of small invasive endobronchial carcinoma and carcinoma in situ. This retrospective study describes the results of 33 consecutive patients treated with curative intent and followed up for more than one year.

Methods: Between July 1994 and October 1999, 35 tumours were treated with HDR-BT alone using a standard protocol delivering 6 fractions of 5 Gy delivered across 1cm from the catheters over 3 to 6 weeks.

[Is carotid resection a valuable option in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas].

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas may involve the carotid artery. Surgical treatment of these tumors is a difficult challenge, because of related morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study of international literature was to define the best preoperative and intraoperative strategy which permits carotid resection with acceptable neurologic risk.

[How to improve the initial management of adult patients with tumors of bone and soft tissues: the experience of a multidisciplinary committee from the Oncolor network before the distribution of regional guidelines].

Tumors of bone and soft tissues in adults are rare accounting in France for 2000 to 2500 new cases per year. These tumors are heterogenous and their diagnosis is made after first surgery. Therefore, an early pluridisciplinary approach, by physicians who have acquired an expertise in this field, is advised before any biopsy or surgical resection and at all the further step in the subfrequent management.

[Coordinated organization of symptoms management and support in all the stages of cancer disease: putting in place pluridisciplinary structures of supportive oncological care].

The organization of the management of pain and other symptoms all along the cancer disease, of psychological support and palliative care is a complex question that does not correspond to any perfectly established model, both in France and abroad. Different structures are implied in there care and coexist with an insufficient coordination: cancerology structures, structures of chronic pain management, structures of psycho-oncology, structures of palliative care. Some other assistances are more or less isolated inside the hospital: nutritional support, social assistance, action against tobacco and other addictions, volunteer work.

Breast carcinoma located in ectopic breast tissue: a case report and review of the literature.

Ectopic breast tissue usually develops along the mammary ridge. The incidence of this anomaly has been reported as high as 6%. Malignant development is rare.

[Surgery and curietherapy of keloids].

Postoperative irradiation of keloids allows a decrease of the recurrence rate by about 50%, compared to surgery alone. A review of the literature illustrates the benefits due to the irradiation, and describes the techniques available. The Iridium 192 interstitial brachytherapy, with per-operative implantation of the plastic tubes and immediate irradiation of 20 Gy at 5 mm depth, is detailed as used by French teams.