In patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ALK gene rearrangements, treatment with crizotinib provided clinically meaningful antitumor activity, producing responses in 51% of patients, in a multicenter phase 2 study reported at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress. Rearrangements in ALK are seen in up to 5% of patients, and crizotinib—a first-in-class, oral, potent, and selective small molecular entity—competitively inhibits ALK. Read More ›
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of closely related hematologic malignancies that arise from abnormal development and function of the body’s bone marrow cells. Primary myelofibrosis (PMF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET) comprise the Philadel phia chromosome (Ph)-negative MPNs.1 Myelofibrosis (MF) can arise on its own, which is called PMF, or it can result from the progression of other MPNs, such as postpolycythemia vera MF (PPVMF) and postessential throm bocythemia MF (PET-MF).1 Read More ›
Roasted Beet and Grilled Asparagus Salad With Orange Tarragon Sour Cream
Ingredients
1 bunch asparagus 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 tablespoon chopped thyme 1 bunch beets 2 oranges, juice and zest 2 oranges, halved and sliced 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped tarragon 4 tablespoons low-fat sour cream 1 bunch leeks, cut into strips and blanched
1.Roast beets in a 350-degree oven for 45 minutes. Peel while still warm and let cool. Cut into slices.
Due to the tremendous physical, psychological, and economic burdens of end-stage diseases, there now is an increasing need for palliative care as an integral part of the treatment plan in the management of radiation oncology patients, according to Marilyn Haas, PhD, nurse practitioner at CarePartners Supportive and Palliative Services, Asheville, North Carolina. In addition, she said that integrating palliative care earlier rather than later may be especially important in those patients with metastatic disease.
There is a lack of guidelines when it comes to standard of care for adult cancer survivors, and it is time to start thinking about establishing such guidelines, according to nurse practitioner Richard Boyajian, who is the clinical director of adult survivorship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts. He said establishing appropriate guidelines could potentially reduce morbidity and mortality.
Cancer and its treatments can cause sexual side effects, and oncology nurses are often in the best position to bring up the topic and provide useful information as well as emotional support. The most important thing a nurse can do to help patients is to initiate the discussion.
Globally, there are 20 million cancer survivors, and the number of survivors is expected to grow because people are living longer as a result of newer and better therapies. Many survivors have little or no understanding of the physical, psychosocial, and economic issues that face them for the rest of their lives. Nurses can play a major role in planning survivorship care to help survivors negotiate the next stages of their lives and enjoy a good quality of life.
There has been increasing recognition of the importance of cultural competence in caring for patients and in improving patient outcomes. This subject was explored by Wael Al Zayyer, PhD, Executive Consultant at the King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Damman, Saudi Arabia, during the 12th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Institute of Learning.
Incorporating nurse practitioners and physician assistants into oncology practices appears to be an effective strategy for dealing with an impending shortage of oncologists and at the same time improving productivity and achieving both patient satisfaction and provider satisfaction, according to a recent study.1
Dr Hansen provided a comprehensive review of the challenges patients face when diagnosed with cancer. She illustrated that while improved survival is a welcome benefit to many of today’s cancer patients, psychological, social, and emotional struggles exist. Several considerations come to mind, such as where does one obtain information regarding care? Does the patient- provider relationship affect treatment, and what is the role of the oncology nurse (ON) in the care of cancer patients? Read More ›
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