Description

Welcome to our new look journal. After a successful 10 years we have a new name too. The focus is still on cancer medicine but we have widened our scope to include articles of original research, such as phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, case-series and audits. We will still bring you authoritative reviews from leaders in the field of oncology but we will also encompass the role of supportive care in cancer patients, and also contributions from the field of psycho-oncology.

To reflect this, the first issue of Focus on Cancer Medicine has an article from my own centre on a new anti-emetic agent for cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced emesis, and an audit of malignant spinal cord compression from a regional centre. We also have excellent articles on symptom management in cancer patients such as the very difficult palliation of breathing difficulties in our patients, or intractable pruritus.

I also urge you to read the excellent original research and review by Nicola Davies on cancer patients needs and satisfaction with decision making in cancer care we can all learn from this to the benefit of our patients. In future issues we will hope to explore these issues further with articles from cancer patient support groups and lay members of clinical trial and ethics committees.

Please submit your original research, audits or review articles direct to myself at Velindre Cancer Centre, Velindre Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 2TL or Rila Publications Ltd, 73 Newman Street, London W1A 4PG and remember we are indexed in Excerpta Medica and Embase.

Dr Peter Barrett-Lee

Editor in Chief