From The Editor August 2023

I am pleased to present the August issue of The Oncology Nurse-APN/ PA (TON), a journal specifically designed for nurses, navigators, and advanced practice providers who work tirelessly to improve the lives of patients with cancer.

We begin this issue with an inspiring interview with Jessica Danik, BSN, RN, CBCN, Oncology Nurse Navigator, Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, Flemington, NJ, who discussed what inspired her to choose a career in nursing, her roles and responsibilities at the center, the most rewarding and challenging aspects of her job, and how she achieves a healthy life/work balance (see here).

“One thing I have learned is there is not one ‘right way’ to feel or be. There is not one ‘right way’ to navigate someone through this experience. I try to let my patients lead and meet them where they are at,” Ms Danik told TON during our interview.

This issue also features select highlights from the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, including a candid and informative presentation by Eric P. Winer, MD, FASCO, ASCO’s 2022-2023 President, who shares his personal journey of overcoming several life-threatening illnesses and discusses the importance of the physician–patient partnership for improving healthcare outcomes (see here).

“Partnering with patients is the cornerstone of clinical care and research. The preeminence of the relationship should be neither hierarchical nor directional,” he told attendees during his presentation. “Even though doctors worry about time, we need to form partnerships with patients to provide the best care and encourage participation in clinical trials.”

Here, you will read about the results of a survey by the Prevent Cancer Foundation, indicating that 65% of Americans aged ≥21 years are not up to date with one or more routine cancer screenings. In response to these alarming statistics, the Foundation is launching a new campaign called Early Detection = Better Outcomes, which shares vital information with patients, such as screenings they need at every age, resources to help them locate free and low-cost cancer screenings, and information on how their family health history can affect their risk for certain cancers. The Foundation has also created an interactive tool that delivers a personalized screening plan that patients can take with them to their physician’s office.

Because artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a very hot topic in healthcare, we also feature an article discussing findings from a recent National Institutes of Health–funded study, which assessed patients’ attitudes on the use of this technology for diagnosing and treating medical conditions. Not surprisingly, participants were almost evenly split on whether they preferred a “human doctor” versus an “AI doctor” (see here).

As in every TON issue, we have also included safety and efficacy data on agents and combination regimens being evaluated in phase 3 clinical trials for various malignancies, as well as a roundup of new oncology drugs and new indications approved by the FDA.

As always, we hope that you will enjoy this issue of TON, and we invite you to visit www.TheOncologyNurse.com to share your feedback with us. You can also send an e-mail with any questions or comments you may have to info@TheOncologyNurse.com.