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.
In response to the ever-changing practice of cancer care, in May 2024, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and ONS released updates to their administration safety standards to provide clarification and guidance for oncology healthcare professionals. Here’s what you need to know about the changes as an oncology nurse.
Connecting oncology nurses to resources and education with topics that support direct care nurses in their day-to-day practice, ONS will host its premier virtual oncology nursing conference, ONS Bridge™, on September 10 and 12, 2024, with a bonus day on September 11, 2024. Attendees can experience expert education from their homes or workplaces through daily live sessions, a virtual exhibit hall, networking opportunities, and access to industry representatives. In addition, recorded sessions will be available until October 22, 2024.
The Biden administration asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by anti-smoking groups demanding that it end nearly a year of delay and ban menthol cigarettes, which are used disproportionately by Blacks and younger people. In a Thursday night court filing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the delay was not unreasonable because it had yet to determine that a ban was “appropriate for the protection of the public health.”