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    COVID-19 Affects Cancer Caregivers, but Here Are Ways to Support Them
    COVID-19
    COVID-19 Affects Cancer Caregivers, but Here Are Ways to Support Them
    February 19, 2021
    Celebrate Oncology Nurse Leaders During Black History Month
    ONS Leadership
    Celebrate Oncology Nurse Leaders During Black History Month
    February 03, 2021
    Am I Too Shy to Lead?
    Nurse staffing
    Am I Too Shy to Lead?
    January 29, 2021
    Zoom Through Video Job Interviews With These Tips for Applicants and Hiring Managers
    nursing professional development
    Zoom Through Video Job Interviews With These Tips for Applicants and Hiring Managers
    January 22, 2021
    The Case of Concurrent Therapy Concerns
    Treatment side effects
    The Case of Concurrent Therapy Concerns
    December 18, 2020
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    Cancer screening

    Medicaid Expansion Coincides With Earlier Colon Cancer Diagnosis Rates
    Research

    Medicaid Expansion Coincides With Earlier Colon Cancer Diagnosis Rates

    U.S. states that adopted the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion in January 2014 have earlier colon cancer diagnoses, enhanced access to care, and improved colon cancer surgical care than states that didn’t implement the expansion, researchers reported in Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, patients in the expansion states were more likely to have minimally invasive procedures and fewer urgent surgeries.

    February 24, 2021
    Older Adults Are Being Overscreened for Cancer
    Cancer screening

    Older Adults Are Being Overscreened for Cancer

    Many older adults are continuing cancer screenings beyond the recommended upper age limits, which range from age 65–75 years depending on the type of cancer screening, researchers reported in JAMA Network Open.

    November 25, 2020
    Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Prevention, Screening, Diagnosis, Treatment, Side Effects, and Survivorship
    Lung Cancer

    Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Prevention, Screening, Diagnosis, Treatment, Side Effects, and Survivorship

    Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for about one quarter of cancer deaths, and more than a quarter of million lung cancer diagnoses are projected in the United States for 2020. Lung cancer has various types, pathologies, and histologies, each with its own prognosis and treatment plan. Non-small cell lung cancer consists of about 80%–85% of lung cancer diagnoses.

    November 05, 2020
    ACS Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines Prefer HPV Over Pap Tests
    Cervical cancer

    ACS Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines Prefer HPV Over Pap Tests

    People with a cervix who are aged 25–65 years should receive a human papillomavirus (HPV) test every five years, according to the new American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for cervical cancer screening.

    November 04, 2020
    A Primer on Urothelial Cancer
    Clinical practice

    A Primer on Urothelial Cancer

    The urinary system, including the bladder, ureters, urethra, and renal pelvis, is lined with urothelial tissue. Urothelial carcinoma is the predominant histologic type of cancer in that system, and 90% of tumors are located in the bladder. With more than 81,400 new cases and nearly 18,000 deaths estimated for 2020, bladder cancer is the fifth most prevalent type of cancer in the United States.

    September 21, 2020
    As True Detectives, Genetics Professionals Uncover the Meaning of True or Noninformative Negative Results
    Genetics & genomics

    As True Detectives, Genetics Professionals Uncover the Meaning of True or Noninformative Negative Results

    Patients who watch crime shows think that DNA testing is as simple as taking a cheek swab and getting the results in two minutes so the case is solved at the end of the 42-minute episode. The reality? DNA can be identified from buccal cells in a cheek swab, but results take several weeks to obtain and are not always a simple negative or positive.

    August 18, 2020
    A Single Blood Test Could One Day Identify 10 Types of Cancer
    Cancer research

    A Single Blood Test Could One Day Identify 10 Types of Cancer

    When combined with positron-emission and computed tomography, a multicancer blood test identified 10 different tumor types in a sample of women with no history of cancer, researchers reported in Science.

    August 05, 2020
    Develop Your Individual Cancer Screening Plan
    Cancer screening

    Develop Your Individual Cancer Screening Plan

    As oncology nurses, we know that catching cancer early through screening leads to better outcomes and increased survival rates. We ask our survivors and loved ones to prioritize their cancer screenings, reminding them, “I do not want to see you in my clinic chair or hospital bed with cancer, especially not at an advanced level.” Take care of yourself by giving yourself the same lecture.

    June 29, 2020
    Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Recommendations
    Cancer screening

    Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Recommendations

    Approximately 53,000 cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. Men are twice as likely to develop the disease, and it typically affects people older than 55.  

    April 21, 2020
    Adding MRI to Prostate Cancer Testing Improves Accuracy, NIH Study Says
    Prostate cancer

    Adding MRI to Prostate Cancer Testing Improves Accuracy, NIH Study Says

    Combining a traditional 12-point biopsy with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis, according to findings from a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

    March 26, 2020
    Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Recommendations
    Cancer screening

    Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Recommendations

    Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer affecting men and women in the United States. When CRC is found at an early stage before it has spread, the five-year relative survival rate is about 90%, yet it remains a leading cause of cancer-related death among both genders. 

    March 17, 2020
    World Gets Closer to Identifying Cancer’s Genomic Drivers
    Genetics & genomics

    World Gets Closer to Identifying Cancer’s Genomic Drivers

    Although most cancers contain four to five driver mutations, those drivers remain unknown for about 5% of cancers, according to results of a series of studies examining genomes from 38 different cancer types. The international Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes Consortium reported the findings in a collection of 23 articles published in Nature and other affiliated journals.

    February 25, 2020
    Women With Diabetes Are Less Likely to Get Cancer Screenings
    Research

    Women With Diabetes Are Less Likely to Get Cancer Screenings

    Modest differences may exist among women with diabetes compared to healthy controls when it comes to adhering to screening recommendations for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, according to results of a study published in Diabetologia.

    February 12, 2020
    Nurses Are Central to Lung Cancer Screening Conversations
    Cancer screening

    Nurses Are Central to Lung Cancer Screening Conversations

    Participation in clinician and patient conversations about lung cancer screening—as well as the actual screening itself—is relatively low. According to one study, only 3.9% of screening-
    eligible patients had undergone lung cancer screening. Because the screening recommendations are newer, most patients are unaware that they exist, and research highlights that only 10%–12% of the patient population has had conversations with their clinicians about it.

    February 10, 2020
    Ovarian Cancer: Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Recommendations
    Ovarian cancer

    Ovarian Cancer: Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Recommendations

    Even though its incidence is less common, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death from cancer in women, according to the American Cancer Society. It also estimated more than 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in 2019, with a five-year survival of 47% for all stages.

    February 06, 2020
    Blood Test May Show Earliest Warning of Breast Cancer
    Research

    Blood Test May Show Earliest Warning of Breast Cancer

    Identifying a panel of tumor-associated antigens and autoantibodies through a simple blood test may one day help providers diagnose the earliest stages of breast cancer, before clinical signs appear.

    February 05, 2020
    Updated NCCN Cancer Screening Guidelines Inform Practice and Prevention
    Clinical practice guidelines

    Updated NCCN Cancer Screening Guidelines Inform Practice and Prevention

    As an industry standard, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) screening guidelines have served a huge role in cancer prevention and early detection efforts, helping providers identify diagnoses early and give patients their best possible chance at survival. Ensuring screening guidelines are up to date and using the best available evidence is an ongoing process that requires an interprofessional approach.

    February 04, 2020
    The Value of Vigilance: New Screening Recommendations Are Vital for Cancer Prevention
    Cancer screening

    The Value of Vigilance

    Although society still hopes for that one big discovery to cure cancer, clinicians know that there’s already a tried and true method to give patients their best shot at survival: catching a diagnosis early or preventing one altogether.

    February 04, 2020
    Prostate Cancer Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Recommendations
    Prostate cancer

    Prostate Cancer Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Recommendations

    One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, the second leading cause of death in men in the United States. Survival varies greatly depending on the disease’s severity and extent at diagnosis: five-year survival rates are near 100% for local or regional disease, but they drop to 30% for metastatic prostate cancer.

    January 27, 2020
    CDC Promotes Lung Cancer Screening Awareness and Prevention
    Lung Cancer

    CDC Promotes Lung Cancer Screening Awareness and Prevention

    As the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, lung cancer is pervasive and deadly. But like many cancers, patients have a better chance at successful treatment outcomes and survival if caught early through screening and early detection efforts. Despite lung cancer being the second most diagnosed cancer for men and women, not all Americans are aware of its screening recommendations. To address the gap in awareness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is promoting a new public health campaign on the issue.

    November 21, 2019
    Biomarker-Based Screening Test May Find Lung Cancer at Earlier Stages
    Lung Cancer

    Biomarker-Based Screening Test May Find Lung Cancer at Earlier Stages

    A blood test evaluating several biomarkers was able to reduce the number of lung cancers detected at later stages, according to study results presented at the 2019 World Conference on Lung Cancer.

    November 13, 2019
    Medicare Cancer Screening; ACA Remains Strong; Medicare for All Cost
    Affordable Care Act (ACA)

    Advanced Cancer Screening Coverage; ACA Remains Strong; Medicare for All Cost

    Precision medicine has a been a hot topic in health care for years now, but costs and coverage issues have created challenges to get patients the genetic testing they need at an affordable cost. In a memo from October 29, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed extending Medicare coverage to pay for genetic sequencing tests for certain hereditary types of ovarian and breast cancer.

    November 04, 2019
    Nurses Offer Wellness Checks to Congressional Staffers
    Cancer risk prevention

    Nurses Offer Wellness Checks to Congressional Staffers

    In June 2019, in honor of Men’s Health Month, a group of Georgetown nurses, oncology specialists, and professionals from other concentrations volunteered for ONS at the annual Men’s Health Network Congressional Health Screening on Capitol Hill. It was an experience that I will never forget. To be in the offices of the U.S. Congress and to meet elected officials and their staff was incredible, but being able to do what nurses do best—act as the most trusted healthcare professional for patients—was wonderful.

    July 25, 2019
    Everyone Means Me, Everyone Includes You: Improving the Practice of Cancer Screening
    Cancer prevention

    Everyone Means Me, Everyone Includes You: Improving the Practice of Cancer Screening

    As we reflect on the progress we’ve made to prevent and control cancer and focus on strategies that will help build on those efforts, one thing is certain: We’ve learned a lot about cancer, but we still have much to learn. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits and knowing your family’s history, especially as you get older, can help you lower a patient’s—or nurse’s—chance of getting cancer.

    May 13, 2019
    Health Disparities Are a Focus for NIH Cancer Awareness and Prevention Promotions
    Cancer prevention

    Health Disparities Are a Focus for NIH Cancer Awareness and Prevention Promotions

    The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH’s) mission is to enhance health and reduce illness throughout the country. Cancer, as the second leading cause of death in the United States, tops the list of diseases on which NIH is focused. Understanding the impact of health disparities, NIH has effectively widened its reach to touch more underserved communities with new prevention efforts.

    May 06, 2019
    ONS Congress

    Nurses Are Critical to Increasing Awareness of Lung Cancer Screening

    Nurses, who are frequently on the front lines of communication with patients at high risk for lung cancer, can play a critical role in increasing awareness of the relatively new option to screen for this deadly condition, Lisa Carter-Harris, PhD, APRN, ANP-C, FAAN, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY, said in the Victoria Mock New Investigator Presentation on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at the ONS 44th Annual Congress in Anaheim, CA.

    April 13, 2019
    What Women Need to Know About Preventing Gynecologic Cancers
    Cancer prevention

    What Women Need to Know About Preventing Gynecologic Cancers

    Not that long ago, women were told to get a Pap test every year. And most of us did, even though it wasn’t always clear why we were being tested. We just did what we were told and thought it was a surefire way to stay healthy. But times and recommendations have changed about what test to have, how often to have it, and the reason to have it. 

    February 19, 2019
    CDC Announces National Screen Out Cancer Health Campaign
    Health Policy

    CDC Announces National Screen Out Cancer Health Campaign

    Targeted to healthcare providers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new public service health campaign to call attention to the importance of regular screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. The Screen Out Cancer campaign is designed to raise awareness to ensure that patients and providers know that prevention begins with knowledge.

    February 17, 2019
    San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

    Asymptomatic Screening Can Improve Survival Rates in Patients With Recurrent Breast Cancer

    Current guidelines recommend asymptomatic surveillance of breast cancer only for the detection of locoregional recurrences. Researchers from the Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Republic of Korea, conducted a retrospective 10-year survival analysis of a large cohort of patients with recurrent breast cancer to identify the impact of early detection on survival outcomes and presented the findings at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 5, 2018.

    December 05, 2018
    San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

    Screening Intervention Improves Access to Mammograms

    Access to quality breast cancer screening and treatment may contribute to racial disparities outcomes. In 2016, researchers at the urban safety net Cook County Health and Hospitals System in Chicago, IL, implemented changes in mammography practices, which included installing digital machines at one of four sites, centralizing reading of images at a single site with radiologists specialized in mammography, and increasing care coordination such as enhanced patient outreach efforts. The efforts improved screening volume and cancer detection, according to the results presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 5, 2018.

    December 05, 2018
    American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting

    Screening for DDX41 Mutation Can Guide Treatment Decisions for Myeloid Neoplasms

    Germline mutations in DDX41 may increase a patient’s lifetime risk of late-onset myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Identification of this germline mutation leads to more timely and appropriate care for patients with myeloid neoplasms, according to a study. Sarah Bannon, MS, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, discussed the findings at the ASH Annual Meeting on December 2, 2018.

    December 02, 2018
    HPV Test May Be Better Than Pap Test for Women Older Than 30
    Cancer screening

    HPV Test May Be Better Than Pap Test for Women Older Than 30

    Pap tests have long been the gold standard to screen women for cervical cancer, but a new study published in JAMA says that in women older than 30 years, HPV testing is less invasive and more accurate.  

    August 30, 2018
    New Gene-Based Tests Screen and Monitor for Bladder, Endometrial, and Ovarian Cancers
    Genetics & genomics

    New Gene-Based Tests Screen and Monitor for Bladder, Endometrial, and Ovarian Cancers

    Researchers have developed two new gene-based tests that detect DNA mutations that lead to bladder, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. The tests, which are not yet U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved, could be used to identify a new or relapsed cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat.

    June 27, 2018
    Which of the Following Patient Types Is Not Indicated for Lung Cancer Screening With Low-dose Helical Computed Tomography?
    Lung Cancer

    Which of the Following Patient Types Is Not Indicated for Lung Cancer Screening With Low-Dose Helical Computed Tomography?

    Which of the Following Patient Types Is Not Indicated for Lung Cancer Screening With Low-dose Helical Computed Tomography?

    A. Is a current or former smoker

    B. Is 55–74 years old

    C. Has a 10–20 pack-year history

    D. Has a 30 pack-year history but no signs or symptoms of lung cancer 

    June 14, 2018
    Prevent Colorectal Cancer Through Screening
    Cancer prevention

    Prevent Colorectal Cancer Through Screening

    Of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading killer in the United States. In 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 139,992 people in the United States were diagnosed with CRC and 51,651 people died from it. Oncology nurses know that screening tests allow for healthcare providers to remove polyps before they become cancer or identify CRC in its earliest, most treatable stages. Clearly, screening is key to preventing CRC, most insurance plans cover screening, and patients now have more screening test options than ever. So why is CRC still so common? Why do people we know and care about still get this disease?

    March 27, 2018
    Targeted Treatment for Prostate Cancer
    Prostate cancer

    New Blood Test Paves Way for Targeted Treatment for Prostate Cancer

    A new three-in-one blood test that analyzes cancer DNA in the bloodstream before and during treatment will allow providers to understand and track which patients are likely to benefit from treatment with olaparib, a PARP inhibitor. Additionally, researchers found which genetic mutations prostate cancers use to resist treatment with olaparib. The study was published in Cancer Discovery.

    September 13, 2017
    supportive oncology services
    Cancer screening

    Local Organizations Can Make a Big Difference in Cancer Care

    I have the privilege of managing and being the sole provider in a unique program. I work in the Hereditary Cancer Program at Saint Louis University Cancer Center, where I provide risk assessment services and education about genetic testing to individuals and families in the region. It’s an amazing nursing role, and I can truly help people prevent cancer and manage their risk.

    June 28, 2017
    BRCA Testing
    Genetics & genomics

    More Women Undergo BRCA Testing, but Not High-Risk Patients

    BRCA gene testing is on the rise for women who do not meet the referral requirements based on family history, researchers reported in study findings published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. At the same time, many high-risk women do not obtain the test and remain unidentified.

    June 14, 2017
    Breast Cancer Screening
    Health Policy

    ONS Lobbies for Breast Cancer Screening Act in Congress

    Alongside congressional representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Susan Brooks, ONS and other organizations are lobbying for support of the Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screenings (PALS) Act. This legislation would push insurance companies—along with the Veterans Health Administration—to provide access and coverage to breast cancer screenings for women aged 40–49.

    June 08, 2017
    DNA Copying Causes Most Cancer Mutations
    Cancer research

    Random DNA Copying Causes Most Cancer Mutations

    Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have demonstrated that random, unpredictable DNA copying mistakes account for nearly two-thirds of the mutations that cause cancer. The results were reported in Science.

    June 07, 2017
    ASCO Annual Meeting

    Cancer Screening Protocol Improves Morbidity and Mortality

    Long-term (10-year) follow-up of a cancer screening tool indicated more early cancer diagnoses, according to a study presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

    June 05, 2017
    Lung Cancer Screening
    Lung Cancer

    High-Risk Lung Cancer Screening Rates Remain Low

    Despite U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations, screening rates for smokers at high risk for lung cancer remain very low, according to the findings from a new study published in JAMA Oncology.
     

    May 02, 2017
    Prostate Screening
    Prostate cancer

    Revised USPSTF Draft Guidelines Recommend Individual Prostate Cancer Screening Decisions

    The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued new draft revisions for prostate cancer screening guidelines. In the draft, the USPSTF has changed its previous stance on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening tests for men aged 55–69. The drafted guidelines now recommend PSA screening tests for men aged 55–69 based on individual assessment. The USPSTF has upgraded its recommendation from D to C, encouraging physicians to discuss with their patients whether PSA testing is right for them. The USPSTF still recommends against PSA screening tests in patients aged 70 or older.

    April 13, 2017
    Colorectal Cancer Rates in Younger Adults
    Cancer research

    Study Finds Increased Colorectal Cancer Rates in Younger Adults

    Although overall rates of colorectal cancer have been falling since the 1970s and ‘80s, incidence of the disease has been increasing dramatically in patients younger than 50 years, according to the results of a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

    April 05, 2017
    Breast cancer

    Mammography Cutoffs Should Be Based on Individual Health History

    Researchers conducting the largest study to date on screening mammography outcomes have found no evidence to support stopping mammography screenings at a certain age. The findings were presented at the 2016 Radiological Society of North America annual meeting.
    January 17, 2017
    Cancer screening

    PCORI to Study Breast Cancer Recurrence Screening

    More than 3 million American women have a history of breast cancer. The survival rate for these women is 90 percent for the first five years after diagnosis. However, there is always concern about future recurrence of breast cancer. Depending on several factors, oncologists often seek follow-up mammograms and MRI’s for high-risk patients.
    December 01, 2016
    Cancer screening

    FDA Recommends Against Ovarian Cancer Screening Tests

    On September 7, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert for women about the risks involved with ovarian cancer screening tests. According to the FDA, no current screening test is sensitive enough to identify ovarian cancer without inaccurate results. As such, the FDA is concerned that patients and physicians might be misled by these results and make unnecessary treatment decisions.
    September 08, 2016
    Cancer screening

    Metastatic Prostate Cancer Increasing in United States

    The number of new U.S. cases of metastatic prostate cancer increased by 72% from 2004–2013, according to a new study published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases.
    September 06, 2016
    cancer screening center
    Cancer screening

    Final Recommendation Statement Screening for Colorectal Cancer

    The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a final recommendation statement on screening for colorectal cancer. Screenings continue to be a source of debate, weighing the cost of screenings against the age and potential prognosis of the patients.
    July 27, 2016
    Cancer screening

    USPSTF Releases Updated Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines

    Colorectal cancer will account for an estimated 49,000 deaths in 2016. It’s currently the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. However, when caught early through screening procedures, the five-year survival rate is 90%. On June 15, 2016, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released updated colorectal cancer screening guidelines to better inform healthcare professionals and patients of best ways to detect colon cancer early.
    June 23, 2016
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