April 2016

We now have tools that enable us to measure the quality of life of professionals who deliver care to patients.

Compassion fatigue ... burnout … job-related stress. Whatever the term used to describe it, most oncology nurses will have experienced the feeling themselves or witnessed it in their colleagues, and more than likely, both.

In this magazine, we often report on the outstanding and compassionate care that oncology nurses provide to patients and their families, but it’s also important to highlight the care that these dedicated professionals need to provide to themselves.

The fear of undergoing cancer treatment is universal. Imagine, however, how it would feel to have a medical team that cannot speak a word of your language or even pronounce your name.

Recent reports suggest that HPV infection affects prognosis. Carole Fakhry et al reported the results of a prospective trial that HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer behaves in a different fashion, has a different response to therapy, is more sensitive to radiation-based therapies, and thus may require a different therapeutic approach compared with HPV-unrelated oropharyngeal cancer.

It started with one oncology nurse’s inspiration—and a closet. That simple idea has grown into a “renewal room” on every clinical floor of the newly built inpatient tower at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, a place where nurses can retreat to relax, take a mindful pause, and find a few minutes for themselves.

Harold P. Freeman, MD, who developed the patient navigation concept now used widely in cancer care, was honored in the Community Outreach/Education category with a 2015 Giants of Cancer Care® award, a program that the Intellisphere® Oncology Specialty Group launched to honor leaders in the field.