The Case of the Struggle to Stop Smoking

Bonnie, a 70-year-old woman, arrives at the outpatient oncology clinic to learn about treatment options for stage IIB small cell lung cancer. During the intake process, Bonnie tells Daryl, an oncology nurse, that despite her new lung cancer diagnosis, she just can’t seem to find the willpower to quit smoking. What would you do?

Patient Factors Should Guide Breast Cancer Screening Intervals

Mammography screening recommendations should be based on risk, rather than age, according to the results of a new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

FDA Approves Nivolumab for Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

On November 10, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved nivolumab (Opdivo® injection, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company), for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with disease progression on or after a platinum-based therapy.

NAM Elects ONS Member Bruner to 2016 Class of Leading Health Scientists

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly the Institute of Medicine, has elected ONS member Deborah W. Bruner, RN, PhD, FAAN, to its 2016 class of leading health scientists and international members. Bruner, professor in the department of radiation oncology at Emory University and associate director of faculty membership, training, and education at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, has long been recognized for her work in clinical trials and her research of sexuality after cancer therapy.

How Nurses Can Help Women Adhere to Oral Adjuvant Breast Cancer Treatment

In an article in the July 2016 issue of the Oncology Nursing Forum, researchers set out to study the experience of women specifically with estrogen receptor- (ER-) positive breast cancer and what they felt helped or hindered their survivorship experience.

Dietary Choices May Contribute to Breast Density in Overweight Women

Overweight and obese women who maintain a Western diet may develop dense breast tissue that may increase their risk for breast cancer, according to a study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Balance Perfectionism and Self-Compassion With a Meditation Exercise

Practicing self-care and compassion is an important part of well-being. One barrier to self-compassion is the pursuit of perfectionism. Logically, perfectionism is unreachable; however, research shows that many people base their self-esteem on achieving perfectionism and being flawless.

ONS Makes Nurses’ Voices Heard During Hill Days

The political stars were aligned, a rarity in today’s contentious environment, as ONS held its first organizational advocacy days in Washington, DC, in September 2016. A total of 100 oncology nurses took part in the event to carry the ONS Health Policy Agenda and legislative priority list to Capitol Hill.

Now Is an Exciting Time for Advocacy

In September, I had the honor to join more than 100 ONS members as we convened in Washington, DC, to advocate for issues important for cancer care and oncology nursing. The National Cancer Moonshot Initiative report had just been released, and our group was invited to the White House office building for a conversation with Vice President Biden.

Genes Linked to Breast Cancer Survival

Researchers have found that activity in two particular genes, F12 and STC2, can predict 10-year survival from HER2-positive breast cancer. The findings were reported in Oncotarget.