Stay up to date on the latest oncology and nursing conferences.
Addressing Cisplatin's Late Effects in Testicular Cancer Survivors
January 16th 2016New research shows that survivors of testicular cancer may have an increased burden of morbidity after being treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy, with obesity, neuropathies, and tinnitus and hearing loss among the most prevalent late effects.
Complete Guideline Adherence Low Among Young Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors
January 12th 2016Despite national evidence- and consensus-based guidelines on posttreatment care, less than half of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with Hodgkin lymphoma receive all of the recommended services within the first year after treatment, according to results of a pilot study being presented at the 2016 Cancer Survivorship Symposium.
CIPN Widespread in Survivors and Leads to More Falls
January 12th 2016Nearly half of all women report symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) long after their cancer treatment has ended, and those with the condition have a significantly higher risk of falls, altered walking patterns, and other difficulties in physical functioning, a new study has found.
Personalized Survivorship Care Plans Key for Low-Income Breast Cancer Survivors
January 12th 2016New research has found that low-income breast cancer survivors are more likely to adhere to recommended survivorship care if they receive counseling along with a treatment summary and survivorship care plan (TSSP).
Telephone Intervention Reduces Unplanned Hospitalizations for Patients With Blood Cancers
April 30th 2015A navigator-designed, proactive, weekly, telephone support call to help patients with blood cancers manage their symptoms between appointments was able to significantly reduce unplanned hospitalizations at a Colorado cancer center.
Navigation Program Increases Uptake of Lung Cancer Screening and Facilitates Follow-Up
April 29th 2015A nurse navigator–led program aimed at improving awareness, access, and uptake of low-dose CT screening for individuals at high risk of lung cancer resulted in improved screening rates with the potential to improve patient outcomes by catching the disease at its earliest stages.
"Welcome to the Walk-through Colon" and Other GI Navigation Success Stories
April 27th 2015Oncology nurse navigators are known for identifying gaps in cancer care, being proactive in setting goals to address them, and designing specific interventions that lead not only to better-and measurable-outcomes but also to increased patient satisfaction.
For Cancer Patients, Chamomile and Honey are More Than Teatime Fare
April 25th 2015The concerns a family might have when a loved one develops squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity might seem obvious: fear that the patient will have a shorter life due to advanced disease, empathy for her pain, and a feeling of isolation in facing a rare presentation of cancer.
Join the Conversation: Using Social Media to Enhance Your Practice
April 25th 2015Do social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook represent an opportunity for oncology nurses to network and keep up with the latest in evidence-based practice, or are they a time-sucking nuisance, and even worse, a possible professional landmine?
More Patient Interest in Clinical Trials an Opportunity to Boost Enrollment
April 24th 2015While clinical trials remain a treatment option and play a significant role in furthering cancer research in treatment, symptom management and survivorship, less than 5% of patients participate in them, and 40% of patients report that they do not understand the idea of a clinical trial.
Early Warning Scorecard Helps Identify Signs of Patient Deterioration in Oncology
April 24th 2015Using a color-coded, pocket-sized early warning scorecard has the potential to help nurses and other clinicians assess when cancer patients are deteriorating, and it's an intervention that could help avoid acute hospitalizations and even save lives, according to two clinical nurse specialists from Johns Hopkins who shared their experience with piloting an early warning tool.
Erica Fischer-Cartlidge Discusses Oral Mucositis Treatment for Patients Taking an mTOR Inhibitor
April 23rd 2015Erica Fischer-Cartlidge MSN, CNS, CBCN, AOCNS, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Outpatient Breast Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the difference between oral mucositis in patients receiving chemotherapy and patients taking an mTOR inhibitor.
Alice Kerber on the Oncology Nurse's Role in Cancer Genetics
April 23rd 2015Alice S. Kerber, MN, APRN, ACNS-BC, AOCN, APNG, Oncology Nurse Specialist, Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education, explains how oncology nurses and genetic counselors will work together as the field of cancer genetics continues to grow.
Getting Some Sleep-an Unmet Need in Patients, Survivors, and Caregivers
April 23rd 2015Insomnia, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and other sleep issues often affect quality of life in cancer patients, their caregivers, and survivors. Unfortunately, sleep complaints can often be overlooked by the medical staff or not mentioned by the patient.
Christopher Friese on the Importance of Using a Systematic Approach to Assess Toxicity
October 27th 2014Christopher R. Friese, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN, assistant professor, Division of System Leadership and Effectiveness Science, University of Michigan School of Nursing, discusses the benefits of using a systematic approach to assess toxicities of patients treated with chemotherapy.
Cost-Coping Is a Fact of Life for 9 in 10 Patients With Cancer
October 21st 2014Eighty-nine percent of patients with cancer reported making lifestyle modifications to cope with the high costs of cancer treatment, and more than one-third altered their medical care, according to the results of a new nationwide survey, underscoring the need for oncology practitioners to screen for and anticipate potentially harmful cost-coping behavior to alleviate patient distress and promote optimal care.
Early Palliative Care With "Co-Rounding" Model Improves Patient Outcomes
October 21st 2014A "co-rounding" model partnering medical oncologists with palliative care specialists was associated with improved outcomes at an inpatient oncology unit, according to a retrospective cohort analysis presented at a presscast ahead of the 2014 Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium.
Interactive Symptom Monitoring Helps Patients, Caregivers During Hospice Treatment
October 21st 2014A telephone-based symptom monitoring and coaching system not only alleviated hospice patients' symptoms during their final weeks of life, it also improved the well-being of family caregivers, according to a new study.