ONCOLOGY Vol 12 No 4

Drug abuse presents a complex set of physical and psychosocial issues that complicate cancer treatment and pain/symptom management. Most oncologists are not be well versed in either the conceptual or practical issues related to addiction.

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) announced that the organization’s cancer information service, ONS Online (http://www.ons.org), is now available to the public. The launch to the public coincides with the completion of improvements to the service that simplify access to cancer treatment and nursing information. The Oncology Nursing Society initiated the public-access project in response to requests from non-member users.

Single-agent Doxil, a formulation of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin HCl, produces a higher response rate in patients with severe AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) than does the combination of bleomycin and vincristine (BV), according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The latest analysis of a large prevention trial conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Public Health Institute of Finland showed that long-term use of a moderate-dose vitamin E supplement substantially reduced prostate cancer incidence and deaths in male smokers. The report was published in the March 18, 1998, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, and the lead author is Olli P. Heinonen, md, dsc, of the Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Alterations in a gene discovered last year by UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas scientists have been linked to breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers, the researchers reported in the February issue of Human Molecular Genetics.

Despite theoretical concerns, children born to survivors of childhood cancer are at no greater risk of genetic disease than the general population, according to the largest study of its kind, published in the January issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

The Oncology Nursing Society has responded to the increase of short-stay (“drive-through”) mastectomy and other forms of breast surgery for cancer.

Congressman John B. Porter (R-IL), an advocate of biomedical research funding, was awarded the 1998 James Ewing Layman’s Award at the 51st Annual Cancer Symposium of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) in San Diego, California. The award is presented annually to a nonphysician who has made a significant contribution to improving the care of cancer patients.

Scientists have long proposed that diets high in soy may contribute to the lower incidence of certain cancers in Asian countries. Now, a University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center study of genistein, an active component of soy products, provides one explanation of how soy could protect cells against cancer.

The establishment through legislation of a national tobacco control policy based on a widely publicized negotiated deal between the tobacco industry and some state attorneys-general would be less effective than no federal legislation at all in promoting public heath and reducing smoking, concludes a new analysis.

There is no doubt that managed care is changing health care and the practice environment of all health-care providers. As Baird states, “The economics of health care will probably exert a greater influence on the future practice of nursing than any other single factor.”[1]

Traditionally, cytotoxic drugs have played a limited role in the treatment of brain tumors, but important advances in chemotherapy have occurred during the past decade. Certain central nervous system (CNS) malignancies are

The traditional definition of “advanced” prostate cancer includes only patients with widespread osteoblastic or soft-tissue metastases (clinical or pathologic stage T any N any M1; or stage D2). Current evidence indicates that

The traditional definition of “advanced” prostate cancer includes only patients with widespread osteoblastic or soft-tissue metastases (clinical or pathologic stage T any N any M1; or stage D2). Current evidence indicates that

With the increasing success of multimodality anticancer therapy, most men of reproductive age will survive their malignancy. Reproductive function is a principal concern of these men. Health-care providers are shifting the

With the increasing success of multimodality anticancer therapy, most men of reproductive age will survive their malignancy. Reproductive function is a principal concern of these men. Health-care providers are shifting the

Managed care is a process of health-care management that integrates financing, cost-containment strategies, and business principles with the delivery of health care. Managed care’s rapid transformation of specialty practices,

Traditionally, cytotoxic drugs have played a limited role in the treatment of brain tumors, but important advances in chemotherapy have occurred during the past decade. Certain central nervous system (CNS) malignancies are

The traditional definition of “advanced” prostate cancer includes only patients with widespread osteoblastic or soft-tissue metastases (clinical or pathologic stage T any N any M1; or stage D2). Current evidence indicates that

With the increasing success of multimodality anticancer therapy, most men of reproductive age will survive their malignancy. Reproductive function is a principal concern of these men. Health-care providers are shifting the

Children, the elderly, AIDS patients, and former narcotic drug abusers pose special problems in pain management that may lead to undermedication even more frequently than occurs in the general population of cancer patients with pain. A multidisciplinary panel of six pain experts with clinical experience in caring for these special groups met in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to discuss assessment methods and pharmacologic approaches to the treatment of pain in these patients. A summary of the roundtable discussion follows.

The article by McDermott Blackburn describes advanced practice in oncology nursing in the managed-care environment. The strength of this article is its detailed description of the traditional roles of the clinical nurse specialist and the nurse practitioner. The author identifies the controversial trend to merge these two distinct advanced practice roles in oncology nursing, and highlights another significant trend-the evolving role of case management in comprehensive cancer care.

The Oncology Nursing Society has announced their position on the care of individuals with HIV infection.

Traditionally, cytotoxic drugs have played a limited role in the treatment of brain tumors, but important advances in chemotherapy have occurred during the past decade. Certain central nervous system (CNS) malignancies are