Articles

Delirium in adult cancer patients: BSMO Guidelines

BJMO - volume 16, issue 4, june 2022

V. Verschaeve MD, I. Clement Corral MD, C. Dumont MD, P. Betomvuko MD, F. Cornélis MD, C. Fontaine MD, J. Klastersky MD

SUMMARY

Delirium is frequent in cancer patients but often misdiagnosed. When severe, it causes distress not only for patients but also for families and professional caregivers. Physicians and nurses involved in the care of oncology patients should receive adequate training in the use of diagnostic tools for delirium. Identifying and reversing the underlying cause(s) of delirium are the best approaches because of the morbidity/mortality of delirium, although it is reversible most of the time. Prevention is also crucial, while pharmacological delirium management is generally not recommended in most cases. These first Belgian society of medical oncology (BSMO) guidelines aim to give a practical overview directly useful in practice.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2022;16(4):166–75)

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O.09 Geriatric assessment (GA)- guided interventions in older patients (pts) with cancer

BJMO - 2017, issue 3, february 2017

L. Decoster MD, PhD, C. Kenis RN, PhD, J. Flamaing , P.R. Debruyne , I. De Groof , C. Focan MD, PhD, F. Cornélis MD, V. Verschaeve MD, K. Vanoverbeke , Y. Libert , S. Luce , N. Nols , H. van den Bulck , J.C. Goeminne MD, K. Geboers , J.P. Lobelle , M. Lycke , K. Milisen PhD, H. Wildiers MD, PhD, A. Baitar

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Highlights in melanoma

BJMO - volume 9, issue 4, august 2015

J-F. Baurain MD, PhD, A.C. Deswysen , F. Chateau , F. Cornélis MD, I. Tromme

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2015;9:132–8)

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Highlights in melanoma

BJMO - volume 8, issue 5, november 2014

Mugdha Deo PhD, F. Cornélis MD, J-F. Baurain MD, PhD

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2014;8(4):136–42)

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Geriatric oncology in Belgium

BJMO - volume 8, issue 5, december 2014

F. Cornélis MD, R. Moor , P. Cornette MD, PhD, L. Decoster MD, PhD, H. Wildiers MD, PhD

As in other developed countries, the management of older cancer patients has become a major public health concern in Belgium owing to an increasing incidence and to other challenging specificities of this population. Since 2009, the Cancer Plan has played a leading role in the development of geriatric oncology in our country by supporting numerous pilot projects. By the year 2015, a scientific analysis of each of these projects will provide important information to the public authorities and care givers in order to organise the management of older cancer patients in an optimal way in Belgium. In this article, we describe the present landscape of geriatric oncology in Belgium focusing on epidemiological data and pilot projects supported by the Cancer Plan 2009–2011 and 2012–2015.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2014;8(5):206–12)

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New medical treatments in thyroid cancer

BJMO - volume 8, issue 3, july 2014

L. Decoster MD, PhD, F. Cornélis MD, E. Joosens MD, S. Henry MD, P. Specenier MD, PhD, P. Clement MD, PhD, On behalf of the Thyroid Task Force of the BSMO

Thyroid cancers are rare diseases and include types that range from indolent localised differentiated carcinomas to fulminant and lethal anaplastic disease. Until recently, treatment options for advanced or metastatic radio-iodine refractory thyroid cancer were limited. Recently kinase inhibitors targeting angiogenesis and other pathways have shown promising activity.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2014;8(3):81–6)

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Targeted therapies in melanoma

BJMO - volume 6, issue 6, december 2012

J-F. Baurain MD, PhD, P. Manlow , F. Cornélis MD

The incidence of melanoma has increased continuously these last decades. Fortunately, cure is possible in most cases thanks to diagnosis at an early stage. Nevertheless, in some instances, melanoma is diagnosed at later stages and in other cases relapses occur. Moreover, melanoma is the deadliest cutaneous cancer and more importantly the most common origin of death due to cancer in young people. Thankfully though, hope for these patients has been increasing during the past three decades with the increased insight in the underlying oncogenic mutations. This progress has opened up new perspectives for etiological targeted therapies. This review will focus on the recent advances in melanoma treatment. (BELG J MED ONCOL 2012;6:194–200)

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