JuLY 2013
www.TheOncologyNurse.com
Vol 6, No 6
Best Practices
Cancer Center Profile
Mission SECU Cancer Center Patient-Centric Design for New Center
NCCN Updates Its Clinical Practice Guidelines By Audrey Andrews
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pdates to the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) were presented at the NCCN’s 2013 Annual Conference, held in Hollywood, Florida, in March. While for most tumor sites, updates were few and minor, the NCCN introduced inaugural guidelines for penile cancer. New Guidelines for Penile Cancer Penile cancer is a rare malignancy (0.5% of all cancers) whose management has
The oncology nursing team at Mission SECU Cancer Center (left to right): Leslie Verner, RN, BSN, OCN, CCRP, CBCN, Cancer Research/Outreach; Denise Steuber, RN, BSN, OCN, CBCN, Breast Program Navigator; Dawn Neuhauser, RN, MSN, OCN, NEA-BC, Nurse Manager; Karen Grogan, RN, MSOM, MHA, OCN, CENP, Executive Director, Cancer Services; Charlotte Lail, RN, BSN, OCN, Lung Program Navigator; Janet Magruder, RN, BSN, OCN, CBCN, Breast Program Navigator; and Carol Logan-Thompson, RN, MSN, OCN, Lung Program Navigator.
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n November 2011, Mission Health, located in Asheville, North Carolina, opened the Mission SECU Cancer Center to provide comprehensive cancer care that includes state-of-the-art technology and comfortable, effective treatment delivery. The 5-story cancer center is Mission Health’s first LEED-certified green building, where patients find themselves in a healing atmosphere that incorporates integrative health modalities, natural light, and breathtaking views of the mountains. Mission Health serves approximately 3000 new cancer patients annually through a network of local and regional providers covering 18 Continued on page 11
By Alice Goodman
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he 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting brought approximately 30,000 cancer specialists to Chicago, Illinois, from May 31 to June 4, 2013. The theme of this year’s meeting was Building Bridges
to Conquer Cancer. More than 4500 abstracts were available to scientists, oncologists, and healthcare workers involved in clinical research. Following are some of the highlights from ASCO 2013. Continued on page 8
Continued on page 12
FDA Approval Process
FDA Expected to Approve Surrogate End Point for Neoadjuvant Breast Cancer Trials By Caroline Helwick
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or years, the cancer research community has pushed for the use of surrogate end points in clinical trials as a means of hastening the drug approval process. These efforts will soon bear fruit, with the release by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its final guidance for accelerated drug approval in the neoadjuvant breast cancer treatment
Conference News
The 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting
been heterogeneous. The standard of care remains complete tumor excision and eradication of negative margins, but in many patients, less-invasive management can be appropriate. For more superficial disease, less-invasive options can be considered, based on the stage and grade of the tumor. These include topical treatment with either imiquimod 5% or 5-fluorouracil cream, which can produce “excellent outcomes,” according to Philippe E. Spiess, MD,
setting. At the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, the speakers discussed the potential implications for researchers, providers, and patients. Under the new guidance for the pharmaceutical industry, accelerated approval could be granted based on a surrogate Continued on page 17
inside PREVENTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Progress in Primary and Secondary Prevention of HPV-Associated Noncervical Cancers NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS . . . . . . . . .
Thyroid Cancer BEST PRACTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tobacco Use Often Falls Through the Cracks in Oncology Practices
©2013 Green Hill Healthcare Communications, LLC
FACES AT THE ONS 38TH Annual Congress. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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A View From the Floor
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CONFERENCE NEWS: NCCN. . . . .
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The Changing Oncology Landscape: Evolution of Revolution?
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