Cancer: How Worthwhile is Non-Curative Treatment?

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Non-Curative Surgery

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Non-Curative Surgery for Upper Gastrointestinal Malignancy

      • Jonathan D. Harrison, John W. L. Fielding

      Pages 3-24

   3. Non-Curative Surgery for Cancer of the Large Bowel

      • S. J. Watson, R. J. Nicholls

      Pages 25-54

   4. Non-Curative Surgery for Gynaecological Malignancy

      • John H. Shepherd, Robin Crawford

      Pages 55-63

   5. Non-Curative Urological Surgery for Cancer

      • W. F. Hendry

      Pages 65-70

   6. Non-Curative Neurosurgery for Malignant Brain Tumours

      • D. G. Porter, D. G. T. Thomas

      Pages 71-82

   7. Non-Curative Surgery for Thoracic Malignancies

      • Ugo Pastorino, Peter Goldstraw

      Pages 83-101

3. Non-Curative Radiotherapy

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 103-103

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   2. Non-Curative Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer

      • D. J. Boote, N. M. Bleehen

      Pages 105-111

   3. Non-Curative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases

      • M. E. B. Powell, P. J. Hoskin

      Pages 113-127

   4. Part 1: Non-Curative Radiotherapy for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer

      • D. J. Sebag-Montefiore, S. J. Arnott

      Pages 129-139

   5. Part 2: Non-Curative Radiotherapy for Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer

      • D. J. Sebag-Montefiore, S. J. Arnott

      Pages 141-146

   6. Non-Curative Radiotherapy for Gynaecological Cancer

      • P. R. Blake

      Pages 147-157

   7. Non-Curative Radiotherapy for Neurological Cancer

      • R. Barton, L. Brazil, Michael Brada

      Pages 159-172

   8. Non-Curative Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer

      • Gillian M. Sadler, Jeffrey S. Tobias

      Pages 173-185

4. Non-Curative Chemotherapy

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 187-187

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   2. Non-Curative Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

      • A. Jones

      Pages 189-198

   3. Non-Curative Chemotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer

      • C. M. McLean, R. C. F. Leonard

      Pages 199-214

   4. Non-Curative Chemotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

      • Michael H. Cullen

      Pages 215-229

Cancer is a major issue in the provision of health care. It is estimated that one in four people in developed countries are likely to develop it at some time. As longevity steadily increases, the incidence of malignant disease is expected to rise further. Important advances in the control of cancer have taken place and curative treatment has improved, notably in some of the rarer tumours, particularly in children. Advances in the more common cancers have been less marked, although adjunctive systemic treatment and population screening are lowering mortality from the most prevalent cance- carcinoma of the breast. Despite this progress, complete control of malignant disease is still a long way off. However, our understanding of the molecular biology of cancer has increased enormously in recent years and the application of this knowledge holds considerable promise for developing new therapeutic strategies. As for prevention, the cause of most cancers is still poorly understood although it is clear that tobacco avoidance would prevent most lung cancers and several others. Cancer is studied at many different levels: molecular and cellular biology, pathology in patients (particularly clinical trials), and prevention and populations (epidemiology). The psychosocial problems caused to patients and their families are being increasingly recognized and subjected to systematic study. Workers in the field, therefore, range from basic scientists to epidemiologists, from hospital specialists to community support teams. Each needs to have at least some knowledge of the role the others play.

• brain
• breast cancer
• cancer
• carcinoma
• cell
• chemotherapy
• gastric cancer
• metastasis
• neurosurgery
• oncology
• radiotherapy
• surgery
• tumor

• Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithfield, London, UK

  Maurice L. Slevin, Teresa Tate

Policies and ethics