Hematologic and oncologic emergencies

PREVIEW

Several urgent problems in oncology and hematology may require that primary care physicians start therapy without waiting for subspecialist intervention. Most of these problems are related to chemotherapy, which often consists of multidrug immunosuppressive regimens, or to the effects of the cancer itself, such as hypercalcemia from bone metastasis or spinal cord compression from tumor extension. In this article, Dr Brigden reviews 11 such emergencies and the most efficient steps to take to manage them.