Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Dealing with a medical emergency in an environment with limited life-saving resources is a frightening situation. Oncology emergencies can be especially challenging and life-threatening. Although these rarely present in primary care, they require specific urgent treatment, and therefore their recognition is important. This article intends to give an insight into diagnosis and management of oncology emergencies in a primary care setting.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

British Pain Society. (2010). Cancer pain management. Retrieved from www.britishpainsociety.org/static/uploads/resources/files/book_cancer_pain.pdf.

Cassidy

Bissett

Payne

Spence

R. A. J.

(2010) Oxford handbook of oncology: Emergencies in oncology, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Castillo

J. J.

Vincent

Justice

(2012) Diagnosis and management of hyponatremia in cancer patients. The Oncologist 17(6): 756–765. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0400.

Cervantes

Chirivella

(2004) Oncological emergencies. Annals of Oncology 15: 299–306. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdh943. Retrieved from https://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/suppl_4/iv299.full.pdf.

Cirino

L. M. I.

Coelho

R. F.

Rocha

I. D.

Batista

B. P. S. N.

(2005) Treatment of superior vena cava syndrome. Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia 31(6): 540–550. Retrieved from www.scielo.br/readcube/epdf.php?doi=10.1590/S1806-37132005000600013&pid=S1806-37132005000600013&pdf_path=jbpneu/v31n6/en_27958.pdf&lang=en.

Delaney

(2016) Pain control in palliative care. InnovAiT 9(2): 84–91. doi: 10.1177/1755738015597255.

GMC. (2015). End of life care: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Retrieved from www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/end_of_life_CPR_cardiopulmonary_resuscitation.asp.

Harris

D. G.

Noble

S. I. R.

(2009) Management of terminal hemorrhage in patients with advanced cancer: A systematic literature review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 38(6): 913–927. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.04.027.

Higdon

M. L.

Higdon

J. A.

(2006) Treatment of oncologic emergencies. American Family Physician 74(11): 1873–1880. Retrieved from www.aafp.org/afp/2006/1201/p1873.html.

10.

Kuderer

N. M.

Dale

D. C.

Crawford

Cosler

L. E.

Lyman

G. H.

(2006) Mortality, morbidity, and cost associated with febrile neutropenia in adult cancer patients. Cancer 106(10): 2258–2266. doi: 10.1002/cncr.21847.

11.

Lee

Tsou

Wong

Ming

Loh

Back

(2007) Metastatic spinal cord compression as an oncology emergency-getting our act together. International Journal for Quality in Healthcare 19(6): 377–381. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzm043.

12.

Lewis

M. A.

Hendrickson

A. W.

Moynihan

T. J.

(2011) Oncologic emergencies: Pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis and treatment. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 61: 287–314. doi: 10.3322/caac.20124/epdf.

13.

Lipton

Uzzo

Amato

R. J.

Ellis

G. K.

Hakimian

Roodman

G. D.

Smith

M. R.

(2009) The science and practice of bone health in oncology: Managing bone loss and metastasis in patients with solid tumor. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network S7: S1–S30. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3047391/pdf/nihms272544.pdf.

14.

McGregor

(2014) Improving time to antibiotics and implementing the “Sepsis 6.”. BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2(2): ) doi: org/10.1136/bmjquality.u202548.w1443. Retrieved from http://qir.bmj.com/content/2/2/u202548.w1443.full.pdf+html.

15.

McLinton

Hutchison

(2006) Malignant spinal cord compression: A retrospective audit of clinical practice at a UK regional cancer centre. British Journal of Cancer 94(4): 486–491. doi: org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6602957.

16.

NICE. (2008). Metastatic spinal cord compression: Diagnosis and management of adults at risk of and with metastatic spinal cord compression. Retrieved from www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG75/chapter/Introduction.

17.

NICE. (2014). Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Hypercalcemia management. Retrieved from www.cks.nice.org.uk/hypercalcaemia.

18.

NICE. (2015). Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Palliative care- nausea and vomiting. Retrieved from www.cks.nice.org.uk/palliative-care-nausea-and-vomiting#!scenario:3.

19.

Raber-Durlacher

J. E.

Brennan

M. T.

Verdonck-de Leeuw

I. M.

Gibson

R. J.

Eilers

J. G.

Waltimo

Spijkervet

F. K. L.

(2012) Swallowing dysfunction in cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer 20(3): 433–443. doi: 10.1007/s00520-011-1342-2.

20.

RCGP. Clinical module 3.03: Care of acutely ill people. Retrieved from www.rcgp.org.uk/training-exams/gp-curriculum-overview/online-curriculum/applying-clinical-knowledge-section-1/3-03-acutely-ill-people.aspx.

21.

RCGP. Clinical module 3.09: End of life care. Retrieved from www.rcgp.org.uk/training-exams/gp-curriculum-overview/online-curriculum/caring-for-the-whole-person/3-09-end-of-life-care.aspx.

22.

Resuscitation Council (UK). (2010). Adult basic life support. Resuscitation guidelines 2010. Retrieved from www.resus.org.uk/resuscitation-guidelines/adult-basic-life-support-and-automated-external-defibrillation/.

23.

Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines. (2014a). Anticipatory prescribing. Retrieved from www.palliativecareguidelines.scot.nhs.uk/guidelines/pain/Anticipatory-Prescribing.aspx.

24.

Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines. (2014b). Breathlessness. Retrieved from www.palliativecareguidelines.scot.nhs.uk/guidelines/symptom-control/breathlessness.aspx.

25.

Simon

Watson

Drake

Fenton

McLoughlin

(2008) Oncology emergencies. InnovAiT 1(2): 119–126. doi: 10.1093/innovait/inn003.