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Learning ObjectivesAfter completing this course, the reader will be able to:1. Discuss the negative impact of anemia and its sequelae, particularly fatigue, in patients with breast or gynecologic cancer.2. Describe the results of the European Cancer Anemia Survey (ECAS), which defined the prevalence, incidence, and treatment of anemia in the European cancer community, identified anemia risk factors, and demonstrated that anemia is often suboptimally treated.3. Explain how the successful management of anemia is associated with patient well-being and improved overall quality of life. Access and take the CME test online and receive 1 hour of AMA PRA category 1 credit at CME.TheOncologist.com CME CME This material is protected by U.S. Copyright law.Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

The aim of this study was to obtain insight into which proportion of cancer patients is admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and how their survival, demographic, and clinical characteristics relate to cancer patients not admitted to the ICU. Data from patients registered with cancer between 2006 and 2011 in four hospitals in the Netherlands were linked to the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation registry. About 36,860 patients with cancer were identified, of whom 2,374 (6.4%) were admitted to the ICU. Fifty-six percent of ICU admissions were after surgery, whereas 44% were for medical reasons. The risk for ICU admission was highest among cancer patients treated with surgery either alone or combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Only 80 of 1,073 medical ICU admissions (3.3%) were for cancer-specific reasons. Although more women (54.0%) than men were registered with cancer, the proportion of male cancer patients admitted to an ICU was much higher (9.3 vs. 4.0%, P < 0.001). Five-year survival of cancer patients admitted to the ICU was substantial (41%) although median survival was much lower (1,104 days) than in patients not admitted to the ICU (median survival time not reached, P < 0.001). These results show that one out of 16 cancer patients was admitted to an ICU and that ICU support for this group should not be considered futile.

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