ABSTRACT
Cancer patients are at increased risk for life-threatening events because of a number of factors related both to the underlying malignancy and to the toxic effects of anticancer therapy. In addition, they may also experience other medical emergencies that may occur in individuals who do not have cancer. All three sources of medical complications should be considered in the diagnostic process before adequate management is instituted. This chapter will review the etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, and management of the most common tumor-related emergencies. We will also briefly summarize one of the most common complications of antineoplastic therapy, febrile neutropenia. Other treatment-related complications are reviewed elsewhere in this book.
