Volume 3, Number 4

Michael D Peake, Editor

In her article Helen Jones gives a graphic description of the stresses that patients and carers experience around the time of the diagnosis of their lung cancer. She also describes the vital supportive role that lung cancer nurse specialists play around that time. My own specialist interest in lung cancer emerged in the very late 1970s, at which time there was not even the concept of such specialist nurses.

Helen R Jones RGN MSc(Res) Lead Clinician, Lung Cancer Multidisciplinary Team, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Huddersfield

Government and professional bodies recognise the value of the lung cancer specialist nurse’s role in providing an important service to people affected by lung cancer. The specialist nurse’s activities aim to provide a patient-focused lung cancer service that considers the patient’s needs uppermost. Different models of practice have developed over the last ten years but essential elements of the role feature throughout.

James S Myerson MRCP Respiratory Specialist Registrar and Clinical Research Fellow in Oncology; Craig Carden FRACP Clinical Research Fellow in Oncology; Mary ER O’Brien MD FRCP Consultant Medical Oncologist, The Lung Unit, The Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton

The assessment of the fitness of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is vitally important to ensure the most appropriate treatment is offered. Performance status (PS) is central to this assessment and is defined by the National Cancer Institute as ‘a measure of how well a patient is able to perform ordinary tasks and carry out daily activities’.

Paula M Mulvenna BMedSci MBBS MRCP FRCR Consultant Clinical Oncologist, The Northern Centre for Cancer Treatment, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

This article will review the management options currently available for patients with brain metastases originating from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and will specifically address the role of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in this context, with an emphasis on the continuing importance of randomised clinical trials.

Peter Froeschle MD FETCS Consultant Thoracic Surgeon, Department of Thoracic and Upper GI Surgery, Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust

An underlying malignant disease is the second most frequent cause of pleural effusion in patients aged 50 years and over. Approximately 40% of clinically significant pleural effusions are due to malignancy; most commonly, lung cancer, breast cancer and lymphoma. Other causes include mesothelioma, gastric or oesophageal cancer, and ovarian carcinoma.

John McPhelim RGN DipCN BSc(Hons) Lead Lung Cancer Nurse, NHS Lanarkshire; Lead Lung Cancer Nurse, West of Scotland, Lung Cancer Managed Clinical Network

Erlotinib (Tarceva®, Roche, UK) is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is one of a group of four closely related cell surface receptors for growth factors. These receptors bind growth factors that control cell growth and function. EGFR overproduction is common in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is associated with aggressive tumour cell biology, chemotherapy resistance and reduced survival.