Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin®) is a platinum-based drug used since 2002 to treat colorectal cancer. It can cause serious hypersensitivity adverse reactions and has the unique side effect of reversible peripheral sensory neuropathy exacerbated by exposure to cold temperature or objects. It gets its name from its chemical structure, which has an oxalate ligand.
In May 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began tracking cases of mpox (formerly named monkeypox) in the United States, a disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Already in 2024, over 1,900 cases in the U.S. have been reported to the CDC. The World Health Organization declared it a global outbreak in 2022 and again in August 2024 after the clade II strain emerged.
On September 12, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs (Tecentriq Hybreza) for subcutaneous injection for all the adult indications for the IV formulation of atezolizumab (Tecentriq®), including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, and alveolar soft part sarcoma.
Five months into my oncology fellowship, I was tasked with my first solo consultation during the first week of my palliative rotation. I entered the room and was struck by how young and calm Jane was.
More than 40% of cancer diagnoses and 44% of cancer deaths can be prevented by lifestyle changes and other modifiable risk factors, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported in study findings published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Although incidence varies by cancer type, approximately 20%–87% of patients experience cachexia during their cancer journey. Affecting nearly every patient with advanced cancer, cachexia is attributed to 20% of cancer-related deaths.
On August 29, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a final rule that raises the minimum age for certain restrictions on tobacco product sales. Once implemented, the requirements are expected to help decrease underage tobacco sales.
In 2008, Feeding America established September as Hunger Action Month to bring together food banks, food pantries, and local meal programs to raise awareness about hunger and inspire people to take action. Here are some ways that you can advocate for patients with cancer who are experiencing food insecurity this month.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is the largest cancer care organization in Louisiana, with 19 locations, including Covington, a New Orleans suburb with a growing population of just under 12,000. In 2020, Covington providers were seeing an increasing number of patients facing food insecurity and financial toxicities.
Equipping oncology nurses to conduct nutritional screening assessments can help reduce barriers and close gaps in the timely identification of patients with cancer who are at risk for or experiencing malnutrition, investigators reported in an article published in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. Implementing a standardized, nurse-led screening process helped their community cancer center identify that nearly 40% of their screened patients were at risk for malnutrition, while also increasing nurses’ comfort with and knowledge of cancer-related nutrition.