[Supportive care administering medical treatment (including growth factors) in thoracic oncology]

Supportive care is the total medical, nursing and psychosocial help which the patients need besides the specific treatment. Supportive care leads to reduce morbidity and toxicity of the disease and cancer therapy, and require an optimal medical organisation. Reduction of toxicity with lung cancer chemotherapy often requires premedication such as prednisone, or vitamins or hydration for cisplatin use. An evidence-based approach to central venous catheter management leads to prevent catheter-related infection or thrombosis. Recommendations to prevent and manage nausea and vomiting caused by cancer therapy are available. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are also available for the use of white blood cell growth factors or epoetin in patients with lung cancer.