Oncology Nursing

CME
Patient education and counseling are essential in women at increased risk for ovarian and endometrial cancer. Women must be educated regarding the signs, symptoms, and risks associated with these cancers.
•The Complexity of Hereditary Cancer Syndromes

Dying from cancer is predominantly an elder experience. The person with major responsibility to provide care for the ill family member is often the patient’s spouse, who frequently is an older adult.

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a naturally occurring, lipid-soluble antioxidant and an essential electron carrier involved in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. In mitochondria, CoQ10 functions as a coenzyme that assists in the oxidative phosphorylation of nutrients, leading to production of cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), or energy.

Vemurafenib is a protein kinase inhibitor that blocks the mutated gene protein BRAFV600E so that the cascade of messages that drive cell division and prevent apoptosis is stopped, resulting in tumor shrinkage.

In September 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved marketing of the HE4 Test (Fujirebio Diagnostics, Malvern, Pennsylvania) along with the CA-125 test in the Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm, called ROMA, to determine the likelihood of finding malignancy at surgery in premenopausal or postmenopausal women presenting with an ovarian adnexal mass.

The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) organization, which began its campaign in 1984, is a partnership of more than a dozen national professional medical associations, public service organizations, and government agencies that work together year-round to promote awareness of breast cancer, share up-to-date information about the disease, and provide greater access to screening services.

News of note from the current literature.

Nearly 3,000 people died in the 9/11 tragedy 10 years ago. Yet I cannot help but put this fact into the context of one of the most challenging concerns in the field of public health today: cancer.

Results of the AZURE trial revealed small improvements in disease-free and overall survival when zoledronic acid was used in addition to adjuvant therapy in a subgroup of early-stage breast cancer patients who had been postmenopausal for more than 5 years.

A new study of collaborative oncology practice models showed that the greater use of nonphysician practitioners (NPPs) led to an increase in productivity for the practice and was satisfying for both physicians and the NPPs. This provides one potential solution for the predicted shortage of oncologists in the next decade.

A statewide survey of oncology nurses administering ambulatory chemotherapy found a high rate of self-reported chemotherapy exposure, with nearly one-fifth of nurses surveyed experiencing skin and eye exposure in the last year.

Older patients may fail to consume their medications as prescribed because of faulty memory, a lack of understanding about the treatments they are being given and their importance, or concerns about cost.

Highlights from the current literature.

Ipilimumab is a human monoclonal antibody that blocks cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4). CTLA-4 normally turns off activation of the powerful cytotoxic T cells, which are able to kill cancer cells.

CME
Advances in the multidisciplinary management of metastatic colorectal cancer have improved survival considerably, and nurses are key to optimal patient care.
• The Evolving Care of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Acupuncture is a therapeutic modality in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), developed over the millennia. Treatment involves the placement of needles at selected points on the body, followed by manipulation with physical forces, heat, or, in modern times, electrical stimuli.

Invasive aspergillosis is a major cause of life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients. Nurses are well positioned to identify, educate, and monitor patients at high risk.

Healthcare providers are long overdue for some in-depth help when it comes to talking with patients and families during times of personal tragedy.

Suggested reading for a geriatric oncology nursing journal club.