Letters to the editor

Van Poppel H: Recent docetaxel studies establish a new standard of care in hormone refractory prostate cancer. Can J Urol. 2005; 12(suppl 1): 81-85.

Bhandari MS , Petrylak DP , Hussain M: Clinical trials in metastatic prostate cancer—has there been real progress in the past decade? Eur J Cancer. 2005; 41: 941-953.

Gralla RJ: Quality-of-life considerations in patients with advanced lung cancer: Effect of topotecan on symptom palliation and quality of life. Oncologist. 2004; 9(suppl 6): 14-24.

Langer CJ: Emerging role of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition in therapy for advanced malignancy: Focus on NSCLC. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004; 58(3): 991-1002.

Saba N , Khuri F: The role of bisphosphonates in the management of advanced cancer with a focus on non-small cell lung cancer. Part 2: Clinical studies and economic analyses. Oncology. 2005; 68(1): 18-22.

Hartsell WF , Scott CB , Bruner DW , et al. : Randomized trial of short-versus long-course radiotherapy for palliation of painful bone metastases. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005; 97(11): 798-804.

Wu JS , Wong RKS , Lloyd NS , et al. : Radiotherapy fractionation for the palliation of uncomplicated painful bone metastases—an evidence-based practice guideline. BMC Cancer. 2004; 4(71). Available online at www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/4/71 (accessed 6/3/05).

Budach W , Belka C: Palliative percutaneous radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer. 2004; 45(suppl 2): S239-S245.

Cross CK , Berman S , Buswell L , et al. : Prospective study of palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy (8.5 Gy x 2) for patients with symptomatic non-small cell lung cancer. Intl J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004; 58(4): 1098-1105.

Konski A , Feigenberg S , Chow E: Palliative radiation therapy. Semin Oncol. 2005; 32(2): 156-164.

Erridge SC , Gaze MN , Price A , et al. : Symptom control and quality of life in people with lung cancer: A randomized trial of two palliative radiotherapy fractionation schedules. Clin Oncol. 2005; 17(1): 61-67.

Beziak A , Dixon P , Brundage M , et al. : Randomized phase III trial of single versus fractionated thoracic radiation in the palliation of patients with lung cancer (NCIC CTG SC.15). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2002; 54(3): 719-728.

Lutz S , Spence C , Chow E , et al. : Survey on use of palliative radiotherapy in hospice care. J Clin Oncol. 2004; 22(17): 3581-3586.

Hospice Association of America: Hospice facts and statistics, 2002. Available online at www.naahc.org/consumer/hpcstats.html (accessed 6/2/05).

Ferrell BR: Late referrals to palliative care. J Clin Oncol. 2005; 23(12): 2588-2599.

Billings JA: What is palliative care? J Palliat Med. 1998; 1(1): 73-81.

Wilcock A , Manderson CA , Weller R , et al. : Does aromatherapy massage benefit patients with cancer attending a specialist palliative care day center? Palliat Med. 2004; 18: 287-290.

Soden K , Vincent K , Craske S , et al. : A randomized controlled trial of aromatherapy massage in a hospice setting. Palliat Med. 2004; 18: 87-92.