ABSTRACT
An estimated 556,500 patients in the United States died of cancer in 2003, making cancer responsible for one in every four deaths in the United States. When adjusted for normal life expectancy, the 5-yr relative survival rate for all cancers combined is 62% (1). The emergency center at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center registered approximately 14,000 patient visits in the year 2000 and approximately 40% of these visits resulted in admission to the hospital. Of the hospital admissions, 94% were admitted to a floor bed and 6% were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (2).
