Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Robert J Behrens.
Most cancer patients experience at least one emergency during the course of the disease. This paper reviews the diagnosis and treatment of tumor lysis syndrome, hypercalcemia of malignancy, superior vena cava syndrome, spinal cord compression, strokes and seizures, and treatment-related emergencies.
The standard therapies of surgery, radiotherapy, and hormonal manipulations often fail to control metastatic prostate cancer (PC). Docetaxel and thalidomide may have activity in refractory PC. We highlight the potential pulmonary toxicity when docetaxel is combined with thalidomide. We reviewed three examples of docetaxel and thalidomide pulmonary toxicity at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and summarized the published literature regarding docetaxel and thalidomide pulmonary toxicity. Docetaxel and thalidomide pulmonary toxicity has the following four main presentations: (1). symptomatic effusions; (2). dyspnea on exertion without any objective pathologic evidence; (3). interstitial lung disease; and (4). pulmonary embolus. As chemotherapy becomes more common in the treatment of PC, clinicians must consider possible pulmonary toxicities. If pulmonary symptoms or signs develop, clinicians should consider holding chemotherapy pending a complete evaluation.
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