TON - June 2010 Vol 3, No 4

TON - June 2010 Vol 3, No 4 — June 28, 2010

Tracy Virgilio, RN, BSN, CCRC, is the Director of Clinical Research & Patient Advocacy Programs at Associates in Hematology-Oncology, PC, in Upland, Pennsylvania, which is southwest of Philadelphia. Tracy’s practice administers chemotherapy and related medications to oncology patients. Two years ago, Tracy and her colleagues decided to make the move to OncoMed—The Oncology Pharmacy. We asked Tracy how the transition has been for her practice.

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TON - June 2010 Vol 3, No 4 — June 16, 2010

Lymphedema, an excess of fluid and protein caused by impaired lymph flow from the tissue, is a common and debilitating complication of cancer surgery and radiation treatment.1 Depending on which area and lymph nodes are affected, the areas of edema or swelling can be the arms, legs, head and neck, trunk, abdomen, or groin. Lymphedema is not a life-threatening condition but is one that has no cure. Read More ›


TON - June 2010 Vol 3, No 4 — June 15, 2010

Steeplechase Cancer Center at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, New Jersey, was established in 2007 in response to community needs for easily accessible high-quality cancer care. The center is named for the steeplechase horse race, held each October in the neighboring community of Far Hills, New Jersey. Proceeds from the race are donated to the center and go to support expanded facilities and services.

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TON - June 2010 Vol 3, No 4 — June 15, 2010

Careful attention to a set of oral care measures may help patients avoid chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis, according to new research.

Results showed that a protocol that provides specific instructions on the various components of oral care can reduce the incidence and severity of mucositis in patients receiving chemotherapy. As examples, the protocol states how often patients should rinse and brush their teeth and what they should do if they develop mouth sores.

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TON - June 2010 Vol 3, No 4 — June 15, 2010

A pilot program whereby oncology nurses telephone patients shortly after their hospital discharge helps improve patient satisfaction with the discharge process and discharge instructions, according to early results.

Mary Ann Long, MS, RN, OCN, at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in Buffalo, New York, and colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of discharge instructions in two groups of patients. One group had recently been discharged from the hospital after surgery for a gastrointestinal malignancy, and the other group had been discharged after treatment for leukemia.

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TON - June 2010 Vol 3, No 4 — June 15, 2010

April 2010 was the second National Safe Handling Month, a campaign designed to further education about the risks associated with handling hazardous drugs and safety measures that can prevent exposure to these agents. The initiative was supported by an unrestricted educational grant provided by Carmel Pharma, Inc, the maker of the PhaSeal closed-system drug transfer device (CSTD), and included regional and national educational activities. Read More ›


TON - June 2010 Vol 3, No 4 — June 15, 2010

NEW ORLEANS—A 2007 report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that psychosocial issues created or exacerbated by cancer are “palpable, important, and potentially crippling” but can be effectively addressed by services and interventions. The report, Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs, also acknowledged that appropriate psychosocial care is the “exception rather than the rule in cancer care today,” and a study by the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) bore this out.

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