Cancer death rates among children and teens dropped in the past two decades, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but that decline has stalled over the past 10 years among Black and Hispanic children (https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4313587-childhood-cancer-declining-stalled-blacks-hispanics/). In the first decade, all races saw a similar decline in the cancer death rate. But between 2011 and 2021, the death rate dropped only slightly for Hispanic youth and increased for Black youth. In 2021, the death rate for White youth was 19%–20% lower than for Black and Hispanic youth, the CDC found.

ONS Perspective

Many populations bear a higher burden of cancer, even among younger ages. CDC’s latest report underscores the need for oncology nurses’ continued advocacy to increase diversity in clinical trials (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/healthcare-organizations-advocate-for-clinical-trial-diversity-in-letter-to-congress), tackle social determinants of health (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/social-determinants-have-clinically-meaningful-effects-on-breast-cancer-outcomes), and confront racism and health (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/cdc-builds-a-powerful-plan-to-confront-racism-and-health).

Oncology nursing voices are essential to fight health inequities at every level (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/ons-member-fights-health-inequities-at-state-level-as-assistant-director-of-illinois). Experienced racism contributes to poor cancer survivorship outcomes (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/experienced-racism-contributes-to-poor-cancer-survivorship-outcomes), and nurses have the ability and responsibility to change that with advocacy down to the institution or unit level. Create programs, processes, and practices that support access and inclusion and deter racism, address your own biases (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/how-our-personal-biases-affect-our-well-being-and-patient-centered-care), and speak out when you see an opportunity. The world needs to hear our voices as oncology nurses (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/the-world-needs-to-hear-our-voices-as-oncology-nurses).

Additional Advocacy News

• Biden Picks Vanderbilt Physician to Lead National Cancer Institute (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/k-qGCR65OnIMg3VfOcNCf?domain=washingtonpost.com/)
• Biden Signs Funding Bill, Averting a Government Shutdown (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/3NVvCVO0ArIWPpvCQooKB?domain=nbcnews.com)
• COVID Deaths Tick Up in Some States Ahead of Holidays (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/8vX1CW6jLvIMynkfpyBYv?domain=thehill.com/)
• Free COVID-19 Tests Are Available Through the Mail Ahead of the Holidays (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/SNKGCXDkLwF8MLJf73Aip?domain=thehill.com/)
• In Ohio, a Fight Over How Nurse Practitioners Provide Care (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/ae7tCOY5MkI72BGUEJEHt?domain=pbs.org/)
• Senate Confirms Monica Bertagnolli as NIH director (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/6TEXCQW5nmT2NwxUM4AEw?domain=politico.com)

Oncology Nursing Podcast

• Episode 268: Race in Research: From Subjects to Scientists, ONS Scholar-in-Residence Has a Career Commitment to Racial Equity (https://www.ons.org/podcasts/episode-268-race-research-subjects-scientists-ons-scholar-residence-has-career-commitment)
• Episode 260: Diversity in Cancer Clinical Trials (https://www.ons.org/podcasts/episode-260-diversity-cancer-clinical-trials)
• Episode 107: Social Determinants Lead to Unequal Access to Health Care (https://www.ons.org/podcasts/episode-107-social-determinants-lead-unequal-access-health-care)