National Cancer Institute/SPL
CPD articles in this section relate to malignant disease and immunosupression, and reflect chapter eight of the British National Formulary
Multiple sclerosis treatment options
February 2012
An article presents an overview of disease management, including the use of recently launched medicines.
A rough guide to transplant medicines
November 2011
The number of solid organ transplants performed in the UK each year continues to increase. This article gives an overview of transplantation and medicines used in the UK
Lung cancer: diagnosis and staging of disease
April 2011Early detection of lung cancer can improve treatment outcomes. Pharmacists should take an active role in raising people’s awareness of lung cancer signs and symptoms and ensure prompt referral to GPs
Lung cancer: treatment
April 2011 First-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer is surgery; but many patients are not suitable and, for these patients, management may involve radiotherapy, chemotherapy or newer targeted therapies
Helping cancer patients in the community
February 2011Cancer patients are spending more time out of hospital and in the community. Steve Williamson describes cancer services in the UK and looks at how community pharmacists can support those undergoing treatment
Biopharmaceuticals: what pharmacists need to know
May 2010 A few biopharmaceuticals — medicines such as epoetin alfa and somatostatin — have been around for a while. But as technology progresses, numbers will increase. Similarly, as patents expire, biosimilars are set to become more widely available. Roger Tredree explains the special features of these medicines and the role pharmacists can playSkin cancer basics for pharmacy
April 2010
Pharmacies are often the first port of call for people with a skin complaint. Rod Tucker describes types of skin cancer and precancerous lesions and explains what to look out for and treatment options
Adult myeloid leukaemias: Pathogenesis, clinical features and classification
April 2010Acute and chronic myeloid leukaemias and the myelodysplastic syndromes affect the formation of blood cells in the bone marrow. Genetic factors are linked to the development and prognosis of these diseases
Adult myeloid leukaemias: Current and future treatments
April 2010Acute myeloid leukaemia is treated with chemotherapy and, if appropriate, stem cell transplantation. For those with chronic myeloid leukaemia, therapy has been transformed by tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Understanding the genetic basis of cancer and its treatments
February 2010Ismail I. Al-Janabi gives an overview of the genes involved in cancer, related treatments and future strategies for prevention and treatment
Understanding treatment of prostate cancer
November 2009Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide after lung cancer. In 2006, more than 35,000 men in the UK were diagnosed with this cancer. Netty Wood explores its diagnosis and management and highlights the role of screening and treatments
Multiple sclerosis
November 2009It is not fully known why people develop multiple sclerosis. There is evidence that the disease process, characterised by demyelination of nerves in the central nervous system, has an autoimmune component. Treatments for multiple sclerosis can be split into three categories: those that alleviate symptoms of the disease, those used to limit the duration of a relapse and those that can slow disease progression
Basics of managing breakthrough cancer pain
August 2009Andrew Dickman gives an overview of breakthrough pain experienced by patients with cancer and how this should be managed
Breast cancer
August/September 2007Two articles outline the pathology of breast cancer and the role pharmacists can play in prevention and patient support and provide an insight into the use of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab, and describe how these fit in to an overall breast cancer treatment plan
Pain in palliative care
June 2007Two articles on managing pain in palliative care
An overview of lung cancer
October 2006With public smoking bans springing up over Europe and investment in campaigns to discourage the habit in the UK, perhaps more of the future generation will see smoking as unattractive. But what about those for whom such interventions have come too late? Michael Peake explains why it is important to be alert to lung cancer
Colorectal cancer: an overview
March 2006Each year, approximately 35,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed in the UK. Incidence increases with age, from 25 per 100,000 in the 45–55 year age group to over 300 per 100,000 in those aged 75 years and over. The most common age range at diagnosis is 60–65 years. In the UK, about 16,000 people die of CRC each year and it is the second most common cause of cancer death. Five-year relative survival rates have, however, increased steadily over the past 30 years and now stand at about 50 per cent.
Breast cancer
November 2004The incidence of breast cancer is increasing, and it is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 35 and 55.
Colorectal cancer
May 2004Over 33,000 patients are diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the UK every year. These articles outline the epidemiology, clinical features and non-pharmacological treatment of the disease and current and future drug treatment of the disease
Men's health: Prostatitis, BPH and prostate cancer
April 2004The disparity between men’s and women’s health matters has been described as one of the biggest, but until recently one of the least-recognised, health inequalities. On of a series of three articles on diseases or conditions unique to men, more prevalent in men, more serious among men, for which risk factors are different for men or for which different interventions are required for men.
Transplantation
May 2003These articles discuss immunosuppression to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ and consider developments in transplantation, focusing on the sources of organs with comments on some of the ethical issues that arise, with both established procedures and new technologies
Leukaemia
March 2003A look at the different types of leukaemia including their aetiology, classification, and current drug strategies
- (1) Acute leukaemia – characteristics and treatment
- (2) Chronic leukaemia – characteristics and treatment
Palliative care
September 2001Two articles that outline the principles of palliative careand consider how pharmacists can enhance the quality of life of patients with terminal illness through their knowledge of drugs used in relieving pain
New uses for old drugs – Thalidomide: regains respectability as new benefits are discovered
July 2001Thalidomide is probably the most infamous drug ever to have been brought to market. Its devastating teratogenic effects led to its withdrawal. However, it has been found to be effective and safe for a number of conditions, if carefully used
Renal disease (4) Immunosuppression after renal transplant
June 2001
The fourth in a series of articles on renal disease deals with the drug treatment of patients who have had a kidney transplant
See also
- Renal disease (1) Acute renal failure
- Renal disease (2) Managing chronic renal disease
- Renal disease (3) Renal replacement therapies
Systemic lupus erythematosus
March 2001Two articles discuss the aetiology and pathology of systemic lupus erythematosus and discuss various drug regimens used in managing it. Case studies have been used to highlight salient points
