Volume 1, Number 4

Jonathan Kell MA (Cantab) MB BChir MRCPath MD Consultant Haematologist; Alan K Burnett MB MD FRCPath FRCP(Edin) Professor of Haematology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy of the haemopoietic stem cell, characterised by proliferation of immature myeloid blasts, failure of differentiation and consequent bone marrow failure. It is the most common form of leukaemia in young adults and the incidence rises progressively with age, resulting in a median age at diagnosis of around 65 years.1

Tevita F’Aho MB ChB FRACS(Urol) Locum Consultant Urologist; David E Neal FMedSci MS FRCS Professor of Surgical Oncology/Honorary Consultant Urologist, University of Cambridge, Department of Oncology, Addenbrooke’s NHS Trust, Cambridge

There are approximately 12,500 new cases of bladder cancer in the UK each year and about 25% present with muscle-invasive cancer.1 Potentially curative local treatment options for organ-confined invasive bladder cancer include radical cystectomy, radiotherapy and a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. Radical cystectomy is increasingly being offered to patients with apparently organ-confined disease; however, 50% die from bladder cancer within five years of surgery.2

Tricia Feber MSc RGN Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Head and Neck Cancer, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds; Chrissie Lane MA RGN Lead Cancer Network Nurse, Yorkshire Cancer Network, Leeds: Julie Hoole BSc Hons RGN DN Macmillan Head and Neck Cancer Nurse Specialist, Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust, Wakefield; Sarah Cost MA RGN DN ONC Macmillan Head and Neck Cancer Nurse Specialist, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford

The Calman–Hine report1 and, more recently, The NHS Cancer Plan2 have put the patient at the centre of cancer care and made wide-ranging recommendations on the reform and modernisation of cancer services. High on the list of priorities were site specialisation and the formation of site specialist multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) for the treatment of cancers.

Ashley Shaw MRCP FRCP Consultant Radiologist; Adrian Dixon MD FRCR FRCP FRCS FMedSci Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge and the University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge

The radiologist plays an integral role in the management of patients with suspected or proven cancer. In addition to the initial detection of disease and image-guided biopsy, staging and follow-up all provide an ever-increasing workload for the radiologist. The growing range of therapeutic options available to the oncologist often necessitates a battery of investigations. With the ever-increasing demand for imaging, coupled with an environment of budget restrictions, the effective use of limited resources is paramount.

Stephen Mangar MRCP MSc FRCR Research Fellow; Vincent Khoo MD FRACR FRCR Consultant in Clinical Oncology, Academic Department of Radiotherapy, Royal Marsden Hospital, London

The optimum management for muscle-invasive, localised bladder cancer remains controversial. The two main options for long-term control are between radical cystectomy and radiotherapy. Traditionally, radiotherapy has not been considered equivalent and has been mainly used for those who are either medically inoperable or have more extensive disease at presentation.

Graham H Jackson, Editor

Cancer care is changing and improving rapidly and everyone involved in the British Journal of Cancer Management remains committed to helping you keep up with these changes. We hope to include some of the many articles you have suggested in future issues. We are also interested in receiving case reports that illustrate or contain important messages and will publish cases that we feel will help the reader to learn key points.

Angus W Wells MRCP(UK) MRCPath Consultant in Transfusion Medicine; Hazel N Tinegate FRCP FRCPath Consultant in Transfusion Medicine, National Blood Service, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Blood transfusion has become a central part of modern medical care. This article reviews the current patterns of transfusion in cancer patients, the threat of blood shortages and the current status of transfusion alternatives for this patient group.