Ending cancer as we know it doesn’t stop at U.S. borders. Truly transforming the burden of cancer around the world requires shared vision and action, participants said during the July 2024 White House Africa Cancer Forum.

Recent Supreme Court decisions curbing the power of federal agencies will hobble government efforts to protect public health, legal experts warn. The rulings will make it harder for some federal agencies to bring enforcement actions, give judges more leeway to second-guess agency decisions, and following a July 22, 2024, decision, make it easier to challenge long-settled regulations. Legal experts and health officials expect a gusher of litigation that will complicate the regulation of drugs, tobacco products, and cutting-edge medical technologies.

In some roles, nurses spend more time sitting at a desk than they do standing on their feet. Practicing self-care through appropriate ergonomic practices is essential. Neglecting proper ergonomics can lead to musculoskeletal discomfort, fatigue, and even long-term health problems. Read on for practical ideas on how to optimize workstations, maintain appropriate posture, and incorporate frequent breaks into daily routines to improve their overall well-being.

Nearly 50% of patients and survivors develop medical debt related to their cancer, with an even higher burden among Black and Hispanic individuals. Patients with medical debt say that their inability to afford treatment or food takes a toll on their mental health, even to the extent that they avoid future health care. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) shared the new survey data in its April 2024 Survivor Views report.

On July 22, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., is extending its voluntary recall of one lot of acetaminophen injection, 1,000 mg/100 ml (10 mg/ml), to the consumer and user level. The product is being recalled because a bag labeled dexmedetomidine HCL injection (400 mcg/100 ml) may be inside an overwrap labeled as acetaminophen injection (1,000 mg/100 ml [10 mg/ml]).

A mainstay of many cancer treatments for decades, 5-fluorouracil injection package inserts were updated in March 2024 through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Project Renewal. The revisions add pharmacogenomics information and a safety warning about severe adverse reactions in patients with DPD deficiency. 

Completely switching to menthol-flavored e-cigarette products provides a health benefit for adults who smoke cigarettes compared to tobacco-flavored products, with sufficient evidence to outweigh the risks of the product, including youth appeal, NJOY LLC reported in its marketing application, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. Because the supplied evidence met FDA’s criteria, in June 2024, the agency issued marketing granted orders to NJOY LLC for four menthol-flavored products.

A new pilot program will help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) make transparent performance recommendations for diagnostic tests used to select certain oncology drug treatments, the agency said in a June 2024 press release. The announcement comes on the heels of FDA’s final rule regarding increased oversight and enforcement of laboratory-developed tests for conditions such as cancer.

As innovators and leaders, oncology nurses and advanced practice providers are increasingly collaborating with engineers to create or expand the use of technology to improve cancer outcomes.

Certain genetic variants can increase an individual’s risk for prevalent or persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and the subsequent potential to develop cervical cancer, researchers reported in study findings published in the European Journal of Human Genetics. They identified three variants that increased an individual’s risk for HPV and one that lowered their risk.