Videos

Applying diversity, equity, and inclusion to cancer clinics can help oncology nurses and APPs make an impact on patient care and research.

An expert explained how oncology nurses and APPs should stay informed on the latest genetic mutations that targeted therapies focus in on for non-small cell lung cancer.

An expert discusses recent advancements in breast cancer treatment, focusing on the addition of CDK4/6 inhibitors for high-risk ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Meaghan Mooney, B.S.N., RN, OCN, discusses the steps she takes to be an extraordinary healer every day and offers advice for newer oncology nurses.

After reviewing the evidence, nurses switched from heparin-based flushes to all saline flushes for patients disconnecting chemotherapy at home.

An oncology nurse explains how her institution created a surgical path card that improved wait times and patient satisfaction in adults undergoing cancer surgery.

Advanced practice providers can lead clinical teams and patients to boost oncology clinical trial enrollment, a nurse practitioner explained.

The establishment of a multidisciplinary committee can help identify opportunities to best face the ongoing cancer drug shortage.

Patients with myelofibrosis should reflect on their personal priorities and quality of life goals, understand the range of available JAK inhibitor treatment options, and openly communicate with their doctor to arrive at a shared decision for managing their disease.

Reasons to switch JAK inhibitors include worsening blood counts and insufficient symptom or spleen response at maximum doses, with the goal of avoiding gaps in treatment by stopping one JAK inhibitor when ready to start the next to prevent symptom rebound while still allowing for potential increased efficacy from an alternative mechanism of action.

Response is assessed in patients starting a JAK inhibitor by monitoring symptoms on a severity scale, spleen size, blood counts, and overall patient impression of change, with the goal being reduction of symptoms and stabilization of blood counts to improve quality of life.

The JAK inhibitors approved for myelofibrosis have common side effects of cytopenias and gastrointestinal issues, with additional risks of weight gain and cardiac effects and diarrhea; momelotinib and pacritinib show improved tolerability compared to earlier JAK inhibitors.

An expert discusses the four FDA-approved JAK inhibitors for myelofibrosis - ruxolitinib, fedratinib, pacritinib, and momelotinib.

Christine Cooper, RN, BSN, explains anemia in myelofibrosis is managed by stimulating red blood cell production with medications, transfusions, and newer therapies that may stabilize red cell counts.

Key patient goals for managing myelofibrosis include improving quality of life by addressing low blood counts and constitutional symptoms, considering disease-modifying therapies and transplant to maximize longevity based on predicted survival, and incorporating personalized priorities through shared decision-making with their doctor when choosing treatments.

Patients should be directed to resources like the NCCN guidelines and ClinicalTrials.gov and provided with thorough discussions covering frequency of visits, required testing, medication administration, side effects to enable fully informed decisions.

To determine risk level in myelofibrosis, prognostic models are used which assign points to various clinical and pathological factors to calculate a risk score that categorizes patients as low, intermediate, or high risk; additional information like mutations and chromosomes can further refine risk stratification.

Patients with myelofibrosis commonly present with fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, bone pain, low blood counts, and concentration issues, with diagnosis requiring bone marrow biopsy.

Nurses treating patients with MPNs should remember to advocate for and empower them.

An oncology nurse said he wants patients to tell them about all their symptoms, so that they can get to the root of what is important and plan treatment accordingly.

Rebecca Testi, MSN, APN, APN-G, from Hackensack Meridian Health, explains ways to help support patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Patrick Buxton, RN, BSN, discusses how chronic fatigue can significantly affect the quality of life in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Cheryl VerStrate, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, OCN, discusses why nurses should be prepared to discuss direct-to-consumer genomic testing with their patients.

Elizabeth Aronson, MSN, FNP-BCN, OCN, shares what stood out to her about the phase 2 MagnetisMM-3 trial assessing elranatamab in multiple myeloma.

Elizabeth Aronson, MSN, FNP-BCN, OCN, shares what stood out to her about the phase 2 MonumenTAL-1 study assessing talquetamab in multiple myeloma.

Oncology nurses should have open communication with patients and closely monitor their hemoglobin levels when dealing with patients with myelofibrosis who have or may have anemia.

Jennifer Cargile, MEd, CCC-SLP, shares some examples of how she helped patients continue their daily activities while they experienced symptoms of cancer-related cognitive impairment.

According to Charina Toste, DNP, APRN-C, AOCNP, MSN, BSN, RN, patients with newly diagnosed myeloproliferative neoplasms may be unaware of the questions they should be asking their providers.