Soft, fortified ice-cream for head and neck cancer patients: a useful first step in nutritional and swallowing difficulties associated with multi-modal management.

Patients with head and neck cancer have complex swallowing and nutritional concerns. Most patients are malnourished, and treatment modalities within the aerodigestive tract have profound effects on future swallowing and nutrition. The objective of this study is to investigate whether the introduction of fortified soft ice-cream to post-operative head and neck cancer patients would increase compliance with oral-feeding regimes.

Pectus excavatum complicating breast cancer surgery.

Breast cancer surgery in the presence of previous reconstruction for pectus excavatum has not been reported. Such a case is described where simultaneous chest wall resection was undertaken because of fibrous tissue distortion mimicking malignant infiltration. Furthermore, postoperative adhesions necessitated opening the pleural lining during rib resection.

Sibutramine in clinical practice.

The role of sibutramine as an effective adjunct to diet and exercise in weight management programmes has been proven in clinical trials. Although the reality of managing obesity in clinical practice is very different from that of a controlled clinical trial, there is good evidence that sibutramine is an easy-to-use and highly effective additional therapy when used in everyday practice to manage obesity and its complications. It is possible to predict which patients will respond well to sibutramine treatment, and to modify programmes and support to ensure the best outcome for patients, whatever their clinical circumstances.