Oncological Emergencies Dr. Gary Harding md, frcpc

Chemotherapy

• Can be successful in chemosensitive tumors

• Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Neuroblastoma
• Germ cell
• Breast cancer (hormonal manipulation)
• Prostate cancer (hormonal manipulation)

Bisphosphonates

• Recommended

• Decrease pathologic fractures in bony disease

• Multiple myeloma
• Breast cancer

Prognosis

• Median survival with ESCC is 6 months14

• Ambulatory patients with radiosensitive tumors have the best prognosis

Treatment Delay

• Education

• EXPERIENCE

• Education

• EXPERIENCE

Case 3: Mrs. HC

• ID: 75 year old female living alone with no significant past medical history

• EC: brought to ER by paramedics after neighbor called b/c she was found in her apartment unresponsive

• No collateral history

Examination

• Fluctuating level of consciousness

• Vitals normal, no fever

• Dehydrated

• Coarse upper airway sounds

• No other pertinent findings