Cochrane

Background People with cancer may experience symptoms such as pain, anxiety, or distress. Massage with or without aromatherapy (using essential oils, which are natural oils that may have the odour of the plant from which it was extracted) may help relieve these symptoms. Massage involves working and acting on the body with pressure. Massage is given ...

Review question: Whether an intensive follow-up decreases the number of recurrences or deaths and affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with a less intensive follow-up and whether a follow-up offered by specialists is different from that performed by family physicians. Background: Follow-up after breast cancer is performed in order ...

Background Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world. As it shows few symptoms, it has often spread by the time it is diagnosed. Consequently surgery is usually not possible, and drug treatment, typically chemotherapy, is required. The most common type of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Around 10% to 15% of people with ...

Background Women with breast cancer who have multiple positive lymph nodes when first diagnosed are at high risk of recurrence. Conventional chemotherapy has limited success and is unsafe in high doses as it damages the bone marrow. One treatment considered promising was to give women very high doses of chemotherapy followed by transplantation of ...

Review question We assessed the effects of different types of breast implants on short-term and long-term surgical complications, cosmetic outcomes, satisfaction with the surgical procedure and the quality of life in women undergoing breast reconstruction following a mastectomy (breast removal). Background An estimated 28% to 60% of women affected ...

Review Question We reviewed the evidence about the effectiveness of different methods to manage fluid around the lung in patients with a build up of this fluid caused by cancer. Background Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a condition whereby cancer of the lining of the lung results in fluid building up in the space between the lung and rib ...

Review question Are pancreatic stents useful in preventing pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy? Background There is no accord in studies on whether the use of stents is beneficial and, if so, whether the use of internal or external stents, with or without replacement is preferable. Study characteristics The use of stents following ...

Review question We evaluated the evidence about whether white blood cell transfusions (also called granulocyte transfusions) given to treat infections are safe and reduce the risk of death or severe outcomes due to infection. Our target population was people with a very low white count (neutropenia) or white cells that did not function properly (neutrophil ...

The issue There is a risk of serious complications developing after radiation treatment (radiotherapy) for cancer (late radiation tissue injury (LRTI)). These problems can be very difficult to resolve and there is some doubt as to the best approaches to treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing oxygen in a specially designed chamber. ...

Background Radiotherapy is often used to treat cancer in the pelvic area. Several organs in the pelvis, such as the anus, rectum, bladder, prostate, gynaecological organs (womb, ovaries, cervix, and vagina), small bowel, and pelvic bones may be exposed to the effects of radiotherapy, which can lead to pelvic radiation disease. Symptoms from pelvic ...