From the Editor

TON - December 2012, Vol 5, No 11 — December 20, 2012
Beth Faiman, PhD, APRN-BC, AOCN
Founding Editor in Chief

This issue of The Oncology Nurse-APN/PA (TON) brings you highlights of the news from the 2012 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting. Part of our ASTRO coverage includes the results of a study that show that many patients with incurable lung cancer misunderstood the goals of palliative radiation therapy. The data from this study illustrate the importance of clear communication between patients and health­care professionals. The study presenter noted that healthcare professionals may worry that “plain speaking” takes away hope, but patients who truly understand their situation are empowered to make decisions that are right for their situation.

In addition to keeping you up-to-date about what is happening in the world of oncology research, we at TON strive to provide you with information you can use in your day-to-day practice. In this issue, Rosalie Canosa and Sharon Gentry describe the scope of the problem of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and how we can help patients deal with this debilitating side effect. They emphasize the importance of proactive communication with patients, pointing out that “we need to tell patients not to be afraid to speak up” if they do not understand something or if they need more information.

Cristi Radford addresses the issue of absolute risk versus relative risk when evaluating inherited cancer risk statistics. She clearly describes the different types of risk and clarifies what the implications are for individuals. Understanding the meaning of risk helps us provide perspective to our patients when they ask these types of questions—all part of communicating clearly.

Please be sure to visit our website, www.The Oncology Nurse.com, to answer our reader question about what inspired you to enter the field of oncology. We want to know how you decided to become an oncology professional.

All of us at TON wish you the best for 2013.

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