News

The mortality rate with COVID-19 appears to be higher in patients with cancer—especially those with lung cancer—compared with the general population, according to updated data released from several registries reported during the AACR Virtual Meeting on COVID-19 and Cancer, and several factors associated with mortality are beginning to emerge.

I love introducing new nurses to the joy of oncology nursing. The process is gratifying, stressful, and brings much happiness and meaning to my work. However, this year is difficult for everyone including the new nurses, preceptors, and educators.

The management of elderly patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges, according to Christine Sam, MD, and strategies to reduce risk of exposure and limit treatment-related immunosuppression and toxicities are key to ensuring the health and safety of this population as they continue to receive treatment during this time.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many elective surgical procedures had been cancelled or rescheduled to maximize hospital capacity and prevent unnecessary exposure for patients, but surgical delays might lead to worse outcomes for certain patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) voted 12 to 0 in favor of approving belantamab mafodotin for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have previously received at least 4 prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory drug, a proteasome inhibitor, and a CD38-directed antibody.

Each Friday, Oncology Nursing News poses a question on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and invites readers to share their thoughts and experiences with each other. Here’s what readers had to say about the thoughtful comments of their patients, and how their job has changed their outlook on life.