No Health Cost Vote; FDA Youth Tobacco Campaign; Senate Committee Drug Bill

No Health Cost Vote; FDA Youth Tobacco Campaign; Senate Committee Drug Bill

From soaring prescription medication costs to surprise medical bills, the issue of high healthcare costs has dominated headlines for months. Both sides of the aisle have been outspoken about the issue in a rare showing of bipartisanship. But despite the attention paid to the issue, little has been done legislatively to corral rising healthcare costs for patients and consumers. The recent announcement that the Senate wouldn’t vote on its healthcare cost bill prior to the August recess has left many wondering if the issue would be addressed at all.

The Future of Oncology Care Depends on You

The Future of Oncology Care Depends on You

Have you had “aha” moments in your life? Times when you finally understood something so completely that you could now fully explain it to someone else? Perhaps you had an aha moment after a session at the recent ONS Congress or after reading an article in the Oncology Nursing Forum or Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. Or maybe you finally understood the benefits of dual inhibition of ER+ metastatic breast cancer with antihormonal therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors after reviewing the recent infographic included with your ONS journal mailing in May.

Sex Is an Important Dimension of Cancer Psychosocial Care That We Need to Stop Neglecting

Sex Is an Important Dimension of Cancer Psychosocial Care That We Need to Stop Neglecting

My charge nurse approached me and told me that I am getting an admission from the emergency department who presented with high blood pressure and shortness of breath. She told me that the patient is on concurrent chemoradiation therapy and has a rectal cancer.

Nurses Offer Wellness Checks to Congressional Staffers

Nurses Offer Wellness Checks to Congressional Staffers

In June 2019, in honor of Men’s Health Month, a group of Georgetown nurses, oncology specialists, and professionals from other concentrations volunteered for ONS at the annual Men’s Health Network Congressional Health Screening on Capitol Hill. It was an experience that I will never forget. To be in the offices of the U.S. Congress and to meet elected officials and their staff was incredible, but being able to do what nurses do best—act as the most trusted healthcare professional for patients—was wonderful.

Diagnose and Manage Dermatologic Toxicity Secondary to Immunotherapy

Diagnose and Manage Dermatologic Toxicity Secondary to Immunotherapy

Dermatologic toxicity is the most common side effect secondary to immunotherapy. The majority of dermatologic adverse events are mild to moderate rashes on the truck of the body and upper extremities, pruritis, and vitiligo. The most common is maculopapular rash with erythematous macules, papules, and/or plaques that can sometimes be scaly; pruritis is also frequent but often underreported and undertreated and may affect quality of life.

FDA Recalls Textured Breast Implants Because of Lymphoma Risk

FDA Recalls Textured Breast Implants Because of Lymphoma Risk

On July 24, 2019, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that Allergan recall its BIOCELL textured breast implants and tissue expanders because of the associated increased risk of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma; Allergan agreed and is removing the products from the global market.

To Drive Clinical Excellence and Resources, ONS Launches Center for Innovation

As part of its ongoing work to promote excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer care, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) launched the ONS Center for Innovation to guide the development of new resources, projects, programs, and applications for ONS’s existing products as well as the creation of new, innovative ones that meet the needs of oncology nurses—both now and in the future. 

Incidence of Aggressive Uterine Cancer Is Increasing

Incidence of Aggressive Uterine Cancer Is Increasing

U.S. incidence rates for aggressive uterine cancer subtypes are quickly rising for women aged 30-70, especially among non-Hispanic black women, according to results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Nurse Meets With New Hampshire Lawmakers to Connect Them to ONS Health Policy

Nurse Meets With New Hampshire Lawmakers to Connect Them to ONS Health Policy

While representing ONS in June 2019 at the National Institute for Nursing Research in Bethesda, MD, I met with my state’s congressional delegation to introduce ONS’s health policy legislative agenda to their offices on Capitol Hill. Despite it being one of the hottest days on record for the nation’s capital, the congressional offices offered a cool place for health policy discussions.

Oncology Drug Reference Sheet: Atezolizumab’s Indications for Breast and Lung Cancer

Oncology Drug Reference Sheet: Atezolizumab’s Indications for Breast and Lung Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) in 2016, but it received additional approvals when used in combination treatments for locally advanced or metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in March 2019.