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INTRODUCTION: Daily, moderate hypofractionation has become standard treatment for breast cancer following breast-conserving surgery, although substantial variation exists in its use. This paper describes the generation of consensus-based recommendations for the utilisation of this therapy at the healthcare system level and compares these to American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consensus-based guidelines were developed in three steps, including a systematic literature review and involvement of radiation oncologists specialising in breast cancer in Catalonia: (a) creation of a working group and evidence review; (b) consideration of the levels of evidence and agreement on the formulation of survey questions; and (c) performance of survey and development of consensus-based recommendations. Results were compared to the ASTRO recommendations. RESULTS: Consensus was above 80% for 10 of the 14 survey items. Experts supported hypofractionated radiotherapy for all breast cancer patients aged 40 years or more; with invasive carcinoma and breast-conserving surgery; without radiation of lymph nodes; and regardless of the tumour size, histological grade, molecular subtype, breast size, laterality, other treatment characteristics, or need for a boost. Over half favoured its use in all situations, even where available scientific evidence is insufficient. The resulting recommendations and the quality of the evidence are comparable to those from ASTRO, despite some differences in the degree of consensus. CONCLUSION: Specialists agree that hypofractionation is the standard treatment for breast cancer following breast-conserving surgery, but some specific areas require a higher level of evidence before unequivocally extending indications.

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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this follow-up pattern of care study was to evaluate current clinical practices, staffing and equipment, and to compare these results to a study performed 5 years previously. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive, pattern of care study was carried out via an online questionnaire. The survey was sent to a total of 95 cancer care centres in Spain. RESULTS: Seventy-three centres (76.8%) responded to the survey. More than half (57.5%) of responding centres offered brachytherapy (BT). A mean of 120 patients/centre were treated by BT in 2007. The most common localisations were the endometrium (29.6% of cases), prostate (29.6%), cervix uteri (14.6%), breast (12.6%), head and neck (3.6%) and vagina (2.5%). Other sites accounted for less than 2% of cases each. Most centres that offered BT (33/40 = 82.5%) were equipped with a dedicated BT operating room. The most commonly reported dosimetric method was CT dosimetry (31 of 40 centres = 77.5%), followed by plain film (30/40 = 75%), ultrasound (26/40 = 65%), MRI (8/40 = 20%), in vivo (7/40 = 17.5%) and PET-CT (5/40 = 12.5%) dosimetry. CONCLUSION: The three most common treatment sites (gynaecological, breast and prostate) remain unchanged from 2002, with prostate treatments showing large increase. Advanced dosimetric techniques (MRI, PET-CT and CT-dosimetry) continue to gain adherents. Some centres treat small numbers of patients, a finding that deserves more attention in terms of cost and quality of care. Although BT remains strong in Spain, it could be further strengthened by making modern dosimetric techniques and treatments more widely available.

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Tobacco is the most important preventable cause of mortality in European countries, accounting for over half a million deaths per year. A review is presented on the epidemiology of tobacco smoking in Europe, using a comprehensive approach on the health effects of smoking, the prevalence of tobacco consumption, and its evolution in the past decade. Tobacco industry efforts to promote and maintain smoking through production and pricing are also reviewed. Thirty out of every 100 European adults smoke everyday and one of every ten adults smokers will die from tobacco smoking; a higher ratio of 1:15 is found in Eastern Europe. The prevalence of smokers is decreasing among young adults in some European countries, while it is increasing among young women in Southern and Eastern Europe. Smoking cessation and prevention interventions should be implemented, such as banning smoking in public areas, banning direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products, crop reduction, and rising cigarette prices. These interventions should be designed, coordinated, and developed by and among the different sectors involved in tobacco control initiatives, together with social network at the local, regional, and national levels, with the support of national and international organizations.

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El tabaco es la causa de mortalidad prevenible más importante en los países europeos, en los que da cuenta de más de medio millón de muertes anuales. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar la epidemiología del tabaquismo en Europa, atendiendo a la visión de conjunto sobre el impacto del tabaquismo, a la prevalencia del consumo y a su evolución en la última década, así como revisar otras características relacionadas con la difusión y mantenimiento del tabaquismo: la producción y los precios del tabaco. Treinta de cada 100 europeos adultos fuma cigarrillos a diario. En los países de la Unión Europea se estima que 1 de cada 10 adultos fumadores morirá a causa de los efectos del tabaco, razón que se eleva a 1 de cada 5 en los países del este de Europa. La prevalencia de fumadores desciende entre los hombres adultos en algunos países de la Unión Europea, mientras que aumenta en las mujeres, sobre todo jóvenes, del sur y del este de Europa. Se debe insistir en las medidas para controlar el consumo de tabaco y prevenirlo, tales como la prohibición del consumo en lugares públicos, la prohibición real de la publicidad directa e indirecta, la reducción del cultivo, o el incremento de precios. Estas acciones se deben diseñar, coordinar y desarrollar en y desde los diferentes sectores involucrados en la lucha contra el tabaco, con la participación de redes civiles impulsadas desde los diferentes niveles administrativos (local, regional, nacional) con la decisiva participación de organismos y organizaciones supranacionales.

Tobacco is the most important preventable cause of mortality in European countries, accounting for over half a million deaths per year. A review is presented on the epidemiology of tobacco smoking in Europe, using a comprehensive approach on the health effects of smoking, the prevalence of tobacco consumption, and its evolution in the past decade. Tobacco industry efforts to promote and maintain smoking through production and princing are also reviewed. Thirty out of every 100 European adults smoke everyday and one of every ten adults smokers will die from tobacco smoking; a higher ratio of 1:15 is found in Eastern Europe. The prevalence of smokers is decreasing among young adults in some European countries, while it is increasing among young women in Southern and Eastern Europe. Smoking cessation and prevention interventions should be implemented, such as banning smoking in public areas, banning direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products, crop reduction, and rising cigarette prices. These interventions should be designed, coordinated, and developed by and among the different sectors involved in tobacco control initiatives, together with social network at the local, regional, and national levels, with the support of national and international organizations.

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