June 2014

Improvements in cancer treatment have increased survival rates, and with more patients being diagnosed with cancer, complexity of disease state, and treatment toxicity, it can be challenging to identify an appropriate care delivery model.

Back in 2005, the Surgeon General issued a health advisory about radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and called it a completely preventable health threat.

Susan C. McMillan, PhD, ARNP, FAAN has conducted extensive research on treatment-related constipation, which, she noted, is the most common side effect of all of the opioid medications, and one that is "very amenable to nurse intervention."

Many cancer patients use complementary therapies for symptom management in conjunction with their standard medical treatment.

Researchers presenting findings at the 2014 ONS Congress reported that many oncologists who are treating patients with head and neck cancer are proactively starting these patients on enteral nutrition (EN) support to avert malnutrition in a population which is especially vulnerable to this complication of this diagnosis and treatment.

Despite decades of research, experts agree that, for many patients with advanced cancer, clinicians may still fail to accurately assess-or sufficiently manage-the symptoms associated with a cancer diagnosis and its treatment.

Each year in connection with the ONS Annual Congress, CURE magazine announces the winner of its Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing, and the 2014 recipient Cindi Cantril, RN, OCN, was honored not only for the outstanding care she provides to individual patients with breast cancer, but also for going above and beyond to forge a number of programs to support other patients living with cancer.

To meet the complex healthcare demands of today's patients, healthcare professionals need to learn how to practice as members of an interprofessional collaborative team.