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Background Cancer cachexia is a condition often seen at diagnosis, throughout anti‐cancer treatments and in end‐stage non‐small‐cell lung cancer patients. Methods and results Participants with late‐stage non‐small‐cell lung cancer and cachexia (defined as ≥5% weight loss within 12 months) were randomly assigned 1:2 to 2.09 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 300 mg of cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 inhibitor celecoxib orally once daily vs. same dosing of EPA, celecoxib, plus two sessions per week of progressive resistance training and 20 g of oral essential amino acids high in leucine in a split dose over 3 days, after each session. Primary endpoint was the acceptability of the earlier multi‐targeted approach. Main secondary endpoints included change in body weight and fat‐free mass, by bioelectric impedance analysis and total quadriceps muscle volume by magnetic resonance imaging over 20 weeks. Sixty‐nine patients were screened resulting in 20 patients being enrolled. Acceptability scored high, with 4.5/5 (Arm A) and 5/5 (Arm B) for EPA and 5/5 for celecoxib within both arms and 4.8/5 for progressive resistance training sessions and 4.5/5 for essential amino acids within Arm B, all at Week 20. Results showed a net gain in bioelectric impedance analysis fat‐free mass of +1.3 kg, n = 2 (Arm A), compared with +0.7 kg, n = 7 (Arm B) at Week 12, and —1.5 kg, n = 2 (Arm A), compared with —1.7 kg, n = 4 (Arm B) at Week 20. Trends in efficacy in terms of improvement and/or stability in cachexia markers were seen within magnetic resonance imaging muscle volume, albumin, and C‐reactive protein levels within both arms. There were no exercise‐related adverse events, with one possible related adverse event of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation in one participant within Arm A. Conclusions Non‐small‐cell lung cancer cachectic patients are willing to be enrolled onto a multi‐targeted treatment regimen and may benefit from cachexia symptom management even during the late/refractory stage.

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies during pregnancy. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) presents a challenging clinical situation. This article reviews the current evidence around the management of PABC and the safety of pregnancy after breast cancer. The trend towards later age at first childbirth has resulted in an increase in the number of breast cancer cases coexistent with pregnancy. The management of breast cancer during pregnancy requires a multidisciplinary team approach. Breast surgery can be safely performed during any trimester of pregnancy. Radiation therapy, if required, must be delayed until after delivery. The majority of patients with PABC require chemotherapy. The timing of delivery in relation to chemotherapy administration should be carefully considered. There is no evidence to date that pregnancy termination influences overall survival for the mother. To date, there is no clear evidence that subsequent pregnancy after breast cancer is associated with worse maternal survival. There is a suggestion that subsequent pregnancy may in fact be associated with an improved survival. However, the available studies are limited by potential biases.

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