Preface

Over the past few decades, there has been an explosion of novel and innovative technology in the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to cancer. The field of hematology-oncology continues to evolve, and medical oncologists, along with primary care providers and specialists involved in the care of cancer patients, struggle to interpret the latest data and research into concise and practical diagnostic explanations. This book has been developed based on the success of Cardiology Clinical Questions by Drs. John P. Higgins, Asif Ali, and David M Filsoff at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and its popular format, “flow path,” as depicted below:

Through the combined experience of the authors, we have compiled a list of the most commonly asked hematology-oncology questions, which provide the rationale for chapter selection. There are 20 chapters. The initial chapters (Cancer Pharmacology, Basics of Oncology and Pathology, and Most Common Hematology Questions) prepare the learner with the background fundamentals of hematology-oncology. Subsequent chapters are divided by tumor type, beginning with solid tumor types (eg, breast, head and neck, and gastrointestinal cancers) and then hematological malignancies (eg, leukemias and lymphomas).

Aligned with Cardiology Clinical Questions, the goal of Hematology-Oncology Clinical Questions is to empower clinicians to get their patients to the best solution as efficiently and effectively as possible. Each chapter provides a Key Concept section, which describes the basics of the question. The Clinical Scenario provides a clinical vignette in which these questions can be applied. The Action Items highlight important “must know” facts, and the Discussion provides further details. The Pearls are the takeaway points of the key concept and often consider a common question asked by faculty of their students at the bedside.

The authors hope that this volume will be a powerful tool to help learners from all points of the clinical spectrum to understand basic concepts of caring for a cancer patient.