Tipping the balance
Almost four in ten serious adverse drug reactions now listed in the labels of 12 targeted cancer therapies were not mentioned in the studies that led to their approval. Half the serious reactions that were [more]
side-effects
Managing common toxicities with new tyrosine kinase inhibitors
TKIs are involved in treating an increasing number of cancer indications. Doctors need to be aware of the range of potentially serious side effects associated with these drugs, and know how to mitigate them, to [more]
Side effects of targeted treatments: clinicians’ perceptions, patients’ realities
The side effects of targeted drugs are poorly documented, and their impact on patients frequently seriously underestimated and undertreated. Efforts to address these issues could improve survival as well as quality of life. The image [more]
More toxic, better targeted: are we one step close to that magic bullet?
Could the new generation of antibodydrug conjugates herald a move away from conventional untargeted chemotherapy? Much will depend on how far and in whom their added benefit can justify the high cost of [more]
Right patient, right drug, wrong dose?
Dose too strongly and the patient gets more harm than benefit, too weakly and the drug cant do its job. Could oncology learn from other fields about using pharmacokinetics in the clinic to hit it [more]
Lymphoedema following treatment for breast cancer: a new approach to an old problem
Screening breast cancer patients for lymphoedema makes it possible to identify problems early and take action to halt its progression. Oncologists have an important role to play, particularly given the rise in lymphoedema rates that [more]
Treatment of skin rash and pruritus induced by biological therapies
Skin rash and itchy skin are known to be common side-effects in patients treated with EGFR and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and can be distressing, particularly when severe. A growing understanding of why this happens is [more]
If you want better drugs consult a PRO
Our systems for evaluating new therapies are only as good as the accuracy of the judgements we make about how far patients benefit and how far they feel the burden of side-effects and other drawbacks. [more]
Managing the sexual consequences of cancer and its treatment
The impact cancer and cancer treatment can have on a persons sex life can cause physical, emotional and relationship difficulties. This overview describes the many problems that can be triggered, and a step-wise approach to [more]
Skin toxicities caused by targeted therapies
Targeted drugs can result in a variety of skin toxicities that are unpleasant for patients and, if unattended to, can lead them to stop taking their drug as prescribed. Effective teamwork is required to ensure [more]
Is it safe, is it tolerable? Why not ask the patients?
Many cancer medications are being prescribed by the month, year, or even indefinitely, tolerability is increasingly more important, yet patients have no direct input into evaluating a new drug. Download full article