Cancer Chemotherapy An Introduction

This book is intended as an introduction to the drug treatment of cancer. It is almost ten years since the last edition was written. In the intervening time, there have been numerous developments in cancer chemotherapy and in order to cover these the majority of the text has been completely revised and rewritten. In addition, two new chapters have been introduced, one on the safe handling of cytotoxic drugs and the other on biological response modifiers. In order to incorporate this new information without any undue increase in the length of the text the chapters on a combined approach to treatment have been omitted. This is not because interdisciplinary collaboration is no longer considered important but is a reflection of the fact that, in most centres, it has become the norm in cancer management and its central role in successful treatment no longer needs to be stressed quite so strongly. The four chapters in the last edition which dealt with the team approach to cancer therapy have been replaced by a single chapter on the place of chemotherapy in the overall treatment of cancer. Unfortunately, despite all the innovations of the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that much of the promise offered by drug treatment during the 1960s and 1970s has not been fulfilled.

This excellent new book summarizes the whole range of systemic cancer therapies, explaining their mode of action and potential side-effects, as well as their clinical applications. It is divided into three sections. The first tackles the theoretical basis of cancer chemotherapy: following an historical introduction, the different treatment modalities are explained in the context of basic tumor biology. The text then moves on to the subject’s practical aspects and covers dosing and drug delivery together with an extensive discussion of possible side-effects. Finally, Priestman looks at chemotherapy in the management of cancers. The book has a consistency of style which makes a wealth of complex information both readily accessible and easily understandable.

This new book covers the basics of oncology for all practitioners who are likely to provide health care to cancer patients, especially those who do not have an oncology or medical background. Cancer educator David O’Halloran provides a unique insight by bridging the gap between normal anatomy and what happens when cancer develops. Information is provided using a layered approach, starting with simple concepts of general cancer biology and moving through to more complicated aspects of specific tumour sites and cancer treatment. Easy to read and follow, Oncology: An Introduction for Nurses & Healthcare Professionals is written in such a way that non-specialist readers will quickly understand complex terminology and concepts, making them relatable and understandable for experienced and junior nurses alike. Logical and easy-to-follow approach Accessible language throughout – does not assume a prior level of knowledge Explains cancer terminology for non-experts Takes a graded approach to information to help learning Provides an understanding of cancer and how it progresses, how to link anatomy to the staging of cancer, and how to explain how modern cancer treatments work Invaluable in helping explain conditions and treatment to patients and families Self-assessment exercises throughout help test learning

9780121978020 Cancer and Chemotherapy, Volume II: Introduction to Clinical Oncology provides the basic framework for understanding antineoplastic drugs. The use of chemotherapeutics in the treatment of the most common human malignancies, including leukemias and lymphomas, is discussed. Solid tumors such as those affecting the breast and lung, head and neck, brain and spinal cord are also considered. Comprised of 17 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of leukemias and lymphomas, including their incidence, pathology, and clinical features. The discussion then turns to solid tumors such as breast and lung carcinoma; head and neck cancers; cancer of the brain and spinal cord; gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and gynecological cancers; and malignant melanoma. The next section is devoted to nutritional and infectious disease aspects of cancer and examines infections that arise in the cancer patient, particularly pneumonia and septicemia. The diagnosis of and therapy for these infections are outlined, along with granulocyte transfusion and prophylaxis of infection. The final chapter deals with nutrition in cancer patients and describes the link between cancer and malnutrition as well as the mechanisms of cancer-associated malnutrition. The advantages and methods of nutritional support for cancer patients are also highlighted. This book should be a valuable resource for oncologists.

A simple introduction explaining the broad principles underlying chemotherapy, this book gives trainees a framework within which they can place the specific aspects of cancer chemotherapy they encounter in their everyday experience. The first part of this book is unique in explaining the recent developments in the field in terms of their point of action in the natural history of cancer. The second and third sections contain a more straightforward description of practical aspects of chemotherapy, and the current place of drug treatment in everyday cancer management, including the outcomes of that treatment.

Physical oncology has the potential to revolutionize cancer research and treatment. The fundamental rationale behind this approach is that physical processes, such as transport mechanisms for drug molecules within tissue and forces exchanged by cancer cells with tissue, may play an equally important role as biological processes in influencing progression and treatment outcome. This book introduces the emerging field of physical oncology to a general audience, with a focus on recent breakthroughs that help in the design and discovery of more effective cancer treatments. It describes how novel mathematical models of physical transport processes incorporate patient tissue and imaging data routinely produced in the clinic to predict the efficacy of many cancer treatment approaches, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. By helping to identify which therapies would be most beneficial for an individual patient, and quantifying their effects prior to actual implementation in the clinic, physical oncology allows doctors to design treatment regimens customized to each patient’s clinical needs, significantly altering the current clinical approach to cancer treatment and improving the outcomes for patients.

A concise overview of the fundamental concepts of cancer biology, ideal for those with little or no background in the field. From cancer epidemiology and the underlying mechanisms, through to tumour detection and treatment, the comprehensive picture revealed will enable students to move into the cancer field with confidence.