From the Editor

TON - July 2017, Vol 10, No 4
Beth Faiman, PhD, APRN-BC, AOCN
Founding Editor in Chief

The July issue of The Oncology Nurse-APN/PA (TON) is full of important news and updates for oncology nurses. In this edition, we feature a profile of the HonorHealth Research Institute, Scotts­dale, AZ, a nonprofit health system that serves 1.6 million patients in the greater Phoenix area.

We also feature key presentations and forums from recent national meetings, including the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) 2017 West Coast Regional Meeting, the 42nd annual meeting of the Oncology Nursing Society, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 22nd annual conference.

The AONN+ 2017 West Coast Regional Meeting, which was held in Phoenix, AZ, played host to nurse and patient navigators from all over the country, and provided a forum for open dialogue around navigation and survivorship care services for patients with cancer.

“The number 1 benefit of coming to a smaller meeting like this is to be able to network more closely with others. Some­times in a larger meeting it’s easier to just sit back and listen, but here, the networking is very strong, and attendees feel they have access to the leadership,” explained Sharon Gentry, RN, MSN, AOCN, CBCN, AONN+ Conference Co-Chair.

At the Oncology Nursing Society annual meeting, Anne Katz, PhD, RN, FAAN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Dr Ernest W. Ramsey Manitoba Prostate Centre, Winnipeg, Canada, and Amanda Bontempo, MS, RD, CSO, CDN, Registered Dietitian, New York University Langone Medical Center, discussed obesity as a modifiable risk factor for cancer, and asserted that approximately 30% of cancers could be prevented by maintaining a normal weight and a healthy lifestyle.

Results from a single-institution study presented at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network annual conference suggest that the frequency of adverse effects in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (eg, dermatitis, hypophysitis, thyroiditis) are dependent on the type of checkpoint inhibitor used.

“Because immune checkpoint inhibitors are being used for cancer treatment more and more, healthcare professionals should be familiar with the distinct side effect profile of each of these drugs to be able to provide appropriate care,” lead investigator Myint A. Win, MD, Internist, Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, told attendees.

This issue also includes articles on the integration of genetic risk assessment into survivorship care, and how a pilot project to incorporate nurse navigation for all new patients diagnosed with a hematologic or gynecologic malignancy improved access to care for patients at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and increased patient and provider satisfaction.

As always, we hope you will enjoy this issue of TON and look forward to receiving your feedback. You can contact us via e-mail at info@TheOncologyNurse.com.

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