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  • December 08, 2023 11:18 AM | Kelly St. Denis (Administrator)

    Breast Aware: A Train the Trainer Program for Nurses in Africa

    The ISNCC Breast Aware Train-the-Trainer program for nurses in Africa was shortlisted for the Vanessa Moss prize at the Global Cancer Control: Bridging boundaries conference at the Royal College of Physicians London UK in November. This was presented by Vera Samba, project nurse representative from Cameroon.

    The ISNCC Breast Aware project aims to design and deliver training on early diagnosis of breast cancer including health awareness messages and clinical breast examinations in Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. These aims are being accomplished in the following ways:

    • Holding focus groups in each country to develop content that addresses the specific needs, barriers and available resources for their country.
    • Facilitate design changes needed for each country to ensure materials are culturally sensitive.
    • Develop high quality educational materials for training other nurses including a trainer’s guide.
    • Provide mentorship to nurse leads in each country to deliver training events.

    This project seeks to contribute directly to the development of nurse leaders and strengthen their capacity to improve breast cancer control across all facets of the healthcare system. Participants of the program will use their skills, knowledge and acquired resources to train other nurses in their local communities to improve understanding of prevention, early detection, screening, and supportive care for women at risk of breast cancer in resource poor countries.


  • December 04, 2023 7:02 AM | Ariesta Milanti (Administrator)

    On November 17, 2023, the CACA Integrated Nursing Summit, hosted by the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association and organized by Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Tianjin Anti-Cancer Association, and China Institute for Integrated Medicine Development Strategy, was held in Tianjin, China. The theme of this conference was "Innovation Leadership, Integration for Mutual Benefit".

    In 2012, Academician Fan Daiming, the Chairman of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, first proposed the concept of integrated medicine, marking the beginning of the era of integrated medicine in cancer prevention and treatment. In 2023, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association established the Integrated Nursing Professional Committee. Academician Fan Daiming, the Chairman of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, was appointed as the Chair of the Integrated Nursing Committee, and Director Qiang Wanmin from the Nursing Department of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital was appointed as the Executive Chair. During this nursing summit, Professor Qiang Wanmin, guided by the concept of integrated medicine, innovatively proposed the concept and connotation of integrated nursing. Director Qiang pointed out that integrated nursing is supported by precision nursing and evidence-based nursing as scientific and technological foundations. It is an extension and expansion of holistic nursing. "Integration" is not simply about stacking resources together, but about appropriately matching them. It requires both a holistic perspective and artistic skill. By leveraging digital and intelligent technologies, integrating multidisciplinary knowledge, techniques, and resources, it aims to provide optimized and personalized integrated care for cancer patients, achieve maximum benefits for patients, and attain the best rehabilitation outcomes.

    Professor Patsy, past president of the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care and executive dean of Queensland University of Technology Centre for Healthcare Transformation, shared a special report on "Advances in Symptom Management". She emphasized that the core strategies of symptom management lie in integrating patient-reported outcomes, applying genomics to cancer symptom management, designing personalized symptom management plans, and implementing chronic disease management service models.

    Professor Winnie K.W. So, a professor at the Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and currently the President of the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC), delivered a keynote presentation titled "Call to action: build and strengthen global oncology nursing leadership". The presentation emphasized the need for effective leadership in oncology nursing to address the current global burden of cancer, shortage of nursing personnel, and challenges posed by the digital health era. Professor Winnie launched ten initiatives for oncology nursing leadership, aiming to collaborate and achieve mutual success in the future.


  • November 22, 2023 7:22 PM | Ariesta Milanti (Administrator)

    Karen Kane McDonnell, PhD, RN, Associate Professor*; Amanda Bennett, MSN, RN, Vera Bratnichenko, MSN, RN, Fattona Umari, BA, BSN, RN, PhD Students; and Ella Weinkle, MSN, RN, Research Associate 

    Cancer Survivorship Research Center, College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States

    *Corresponding author: Karenkm@mailbox.sc.edu


    A lack of management of anxiety and depression are associated with diminished quality of life and increased mortality. Both symptoms are underrecognized and undertreated.1


    Integrative oncology is a growing field of cancer care. It is a patient-centered, evidence-based field of supportive cancer care that utilizes integrative therapies such as mind-body practices, acupuncture, massage, music therapy, nutrition, and exercise in collaboration with conventional cancer treatments. Patient interest and utilization has been growing in popularity over several decades. Clinical research has shown the benefits of some of these approaches to improving symptom management and quality of life. The availability of these integrative oncology programs at cancer centers and in communities is also growing, though it is still highly variable from location to location along with program structure and implementation.1

    • A joint effort between the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) reviewed the evidence and made recommendations about therapies targeting adults with cancer experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.1,2 The recommendations were developed based on a comprehensive review and analyses of the research literature.2 The literature search from 1990 to 2023 identified 110 relevant studies (30 systematic reviews and 80 randomized control trials).2 Most importantly, these new recommendations can guide clinicians as to which interventions will be most effective in helping their patients. 

      The following four questions guided the review:

    • 1.     What integrative therapies are recommended for managing symptoms of anxiety experienced after diagnosis or during active treatment in adults with cancer?
    • 2.     What integrative therapies are recommended for managing symptoms of anxiety experienced post-treatment in adults with cancer?
    • 3.     What integrative therapies are recommended for managing symptoms of depression experienced after diagnosis or during active treatment in adults with cancer?
    • 4.     What integrative therapies are recommended for managing symptoms of depression experienced post-treatment in adults with cancer?2
    • The guideline development process was detailed. An international, multidisciplinary, 18-person expert panel, which included a patient representative, and two doctorly-prepared nurses were responsible for providing critical review and finalizing the guideline. BRIDGE-Wiz software, the GuideLines into Decision Support (GLIDES) methodology, the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and the AMSTAR 2 instrument were used to measure the quality of the evidence (rated as High, Intermediate, Low, or Insufficient) and the strength of a recommendation (Strong, Moderate, or Weak).3-5

      Twenty-one recommendations regarding therapies are included in the guideline. The following four recommendations were the only ones rated as Strong:

    • 1.     Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) should be offered to people with cancer to improve anxiety during active treatment. 
    • 2.     MBIs should be offered to people with cancer to improve anxiety post-treatment. 
    • 3.     MBIs should be offered to people with cancer to improve depression during active treatment. 
    • 4.     MBIs should be offered to people with cancer to improve depression post-treatment. 

    Even though the review of MBIs provided the strongest evidence, other types of interventions provided sufficient evidence to inform the recommendations. Those interventions included aroma therapy, acupuncture, expressive writing, hypnosis, music therapy and music-based interventions, reflexology, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, tai chi, qigong, and yoga.2

    Other interventions provided inconclusive evidence for informing recommendations, revealing many gaps in the existing evidence base and demonstrating the need for more research. Studies testing acupressure, dance and movement therapy, dietary supplements, healing touch, therapeutic listening, laughter therapy, light therapy, massage, natural products, nutritional interventions, and psilocybin-assisted therapy were included in this category.2


    Survivors with cancer use integrative (sometimes referred to as complementary) therapies to help manage side effects and symptoms.


    Guideline Implementation

    Guidelines are developed for implementation across health-care settings around the world. However, many barriers can slow dissemination. A team approach—in which clinicians partner with expert mindfulness practitioners and translational researchers in their respective settings—may improve the chances of successful implementation. 

    Due to the evidence base gaps (i.e., not enough studies conducted that could be considered in the review), the expert panel was not able to make recommendations for many supportive care modalities. The panel specifically recommended that more research be conducted with populations other than women with breast cancer, in contexts other than metastatic disease, and among people from diverse backgrounds. 

    Read the full joint SIO-ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline for Integrative Oncology Care of Anxiety and Depression in Adults with Cancer at either link below:

    SIO website: https://integrativeonc.org/practice-guidelines/guidelines

    ASCO website: 

    www.asco.org/survivorship-guidelines


    References

    • 1.     Semeniuk, G., Bahadini, B., Ahn, E., Zain, J., Cheng, J., Govindarajan, A., Rose, J., & Lee, R. T. (2023). Integrative oncology and the clinical care network: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(12), 3946. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12123946
    • 2.     Carlson, L. E., Ismaila, N., Addington, E. L., Asher, G. N., Atreya, C., Balneaves, L. G., Bradt, J., Fuller-Shavel, N., Goodman, J., Hoffman, C. J., Huston, A., Mehta, A., Paller, C. J., Richardson, K., Seely, D., Siwik, C. J., Temel, J. S., & Rowland, J. H. (2023). Integrative oncology care of symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology–ASCO Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 41(28), 4562–4591. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.00857
    • 3.     Shiffman, R. N., Michel, G., Rosenfeld, R. M., & Davidson, C. (2012). Building better guidelines with BRIDGE-Wiz: Development and evaluation of a software assistant to promote clarity, transparency, and implementability. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 19(1), 94–101. https://doi.org/10.1136/amiajnl-2011-000172

    • 4.     Higgins, J. P., Altman, D. G., Gøtzsche, P. C., Jüni, P., Moher, D., Oxman, A. D., Savović, J., Schulz, K. F., Weeks, L., & Sterne, J. A. (2011). The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ, 343, d5928. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d5928    
    • 5.     Shea, B. J., Reeves, B. C., Wells, G., Thuku, M., Hamel, C., Moran, J., Moher, D., Tugwell, P., Welch, V., Kristjansson, E., & Henry, D. A. (2017). AMSTAR 2: A critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews that include randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions, or both. BMJ, 358, j4008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j4008


    Disclosure: Karen Kane McDonnell is supported by the American Cancer Society under award number MRSG-17-152-01. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not represent the official views of the American Cancer Society.


  • November 08, 2023 4:23 AM | Ariesta Milanti (Administrator)


    From September 29 to October 2, 2023, the International Conference on Cancer Nursing (ICCN2023) was held in Glasgow for four days. The theme of the conference was "Building Global Excellence in Nursing, Achieving Excellence in Cancer Care," and it was divided into four main themes and five sub-forums. Leading cancer care experts from the UK, USA, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and other countries in Africa gathered to discuss the latest developments in cancer care.

    During the conference, the Palliative Care Committee of the Chinese Nursing Association and the Palliative Care Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association donated more than 30 books in Chinese and English, including "Palliative Care: A Technical Guide for the Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer in China." These donation provided strong support for and promoted the development of global palliative care.


    Through this international Cancer Nursing Conference, the influence of the Palliative Care Committee of the Chinese Nursing Association has been further enhanced. We expect that palliative scholars from around the world will actively participate in the practice and research of palliative care, contributing to the further development of palliative care in our country.


  • November 06, 2023 8:54 PM | Ariesta Milanti (Administrator)

    by: Roselyne Anyango Okumu

    ISNCC Travel grant scholarship recipient (2023) 

    President - Oncology Nurses Chapter- Kenya


    The International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC) was founded in 1984 with a vision to lead global nursing communities in cancer control. ISNCC works towards improving the health and well-being of people at risk of living with cancer through leadership development, supporting the development of cancer nurses around the world, and promoting nurses' role in improving cancer care delivery. The Executive committee included Prof Winnie So- President, Patsy Yates -- Past president, and Linda Watson - Secretary/Treasurer.

    The ISNCC Nominations and Awards Committee granted me a full travel scholarship to participate in the International Conference on Cancer Nursing 2023 (ICCN 2023) in Glasgow, UK, 29 September– 2 October 2023. The scholarship program was established to further the mission and vision of the ISNCC to foster the development of cancer nursing internationally. The planning process was smooth air travel and accommodation organized by the ISNCC secretariat, my stay in Glasgow was very interesting. I enjoyed the sumptuous dinner themed on Scottish culture and the dance.

    The experience at ICCN was unmatched as I followed the proceedings, I learned a lot from the research, best practices, and experiences of nurses across the globe. It was also exciting to learn about progress made in nursing education across the globe as well as to identify gaps and explore possibilities of continuous improvement in cancer care. Indeed, these aligned very well with the conference theme of Building Global Nursing Excellence for Tomorrow’s Cancer Realities. Additionally, the networking with colleagues was very exciting accompanied by meeting some people that we have depended on reading their research papers and articles to inform practice in my home country was very inspiring.

    I also attended the ISNCC General meeting where I got great insights, especially on what it takes the leadership to manage operations at such a high-level institution. I was also delighted to know that the Oncology Nurses Chapter Kenya (ONC-K) has now become a member of ISNCC. I also learned a lot about what is happening around the globe and the need to have ISNCC global citizens. We were pleased to meet some of the ISNCC board members and the leadership and to learn from them. As I come back home, I am thrilled to know that we have an organization that we can look up to for mentorship in order to prepare ourselves to better handle future challenges in cancer care across the continuum.

    I am very grateful for this opportunity to participate in this year's presentation on the status of cancer in Kenya; and the role of oncology nurse. It pleases me as the ONC-K leader that one of our mem- bers was granted the past president award in line with her contributions to cancer care. We look forward to building the relationship further as we learn and empower the nurses.

    It was such a pleasure attending this conference and am continually indebted to ISNCC for this. I will endeavor to share the knowledge gained with my colleagues as we seek to improve the quality of cancer care. I will be willing to take up any role assigned to me by ISNCC in furtherance of its agenda. Please allow me to invite you to come and visit Kenya and see what we are doing at various institutions and at ONC-K as we seek opportunities to collaborate.

    Thank you


  • March 16, 2023 9:35 PM | Ariesta Milanti (Administrator)

    Author: Yongyi Chen, Boyong Shen, Junchen Guo

    Affiliations: Hunan Cancer Hospital; Palliative Care Technology Training and Guidance Base of Hunan Province


    The inaugural meeting of the Hunan Palliative Care Remote Multidisciplinary Collaborative Alliance was successfully held in Changsha, China on March 10, 2023. More than 300 representatives from 93 medical institutions from within and outside Hunan Province attended this conference.

    Professor Yimin Zhu, Deputy Director of the Health Commission of Hunan Province, delivered a keynote speech. He stressed that the development of palliative care in Hunan Province needs the joint efforts of the whole province to achieve common progress and benefit more patients, and hoped that the Hunan Palliative Care Remote Multidisciplinary Collaborative Alliance would spare no effort to promote palliative care with high starting point planning, high standard promotion, high efficiency implementation, and high-quality implementation.

    Professor Yazhou Xiao, President of Hunan Cancer Hospital, pointed out that the Hunan Palliative Care Remote Multidisciplinary Collaborative Alliance is in line with the overall development healthy, and is based on the current situation of the ageing population and high incidence of cancer. Hunan Cancer Hospital will shoulder the mission and play a leading role to further comprehensively improve the quality of life of end-stage patients.

    Professor Winnie So, President of the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care, joined the conference online. She said that the establishment of the Hunan Palliative Care Remote Multidisciplinary Collaborative Alliance is a model for the provision of high-quality palliative care. The collaboration of multidisciplinary experts can have a synergistic effect so that more patients in need of palliative care can live the last journey of life in peace, comfort and dignity without regrets.

    The conference formally established Hunan Cancer Hospital as the presiding unit of the first Hunan Palliative Care Remote Multidisciplinary Collaboration Alliance; Professor Lihui Zhu, the deputy secretary of Hunan Cancer Hospital, as the chairman of the alliance; and Professor Yongyi Chen as the chief expert. 8 hospitals were included as the vice-chairman institutes, and 84 hospitals were included as the committee institutes.

    The establishment of the Hunan Palliative Care Remote Multidisciplinary Collaborative Alliance shows that palliative care work in Hunan has reached a new stage. As a next step, the Alliance will gradually improve the palliative care service system and standardise the industry standards in Hunan.

  • February 02, 2023 7:56 PM | Leya Duigu (Administrator)


    World Cancer Day is coming up on February 4th and the ISNCC Board of Directors are pleased to mark the date by releasing a video series and forum on the critical role of nursing leadership in closing the cancer care gap.

    These videos explore the role of nurse leaders and examine strategies to accelerate nursing leadership developing. Presentations are delivered by outstanding nursing leaders in cancer control who share examples of how nursing leadership is applied at the system and organizational levels to close the cancer care gap.

    Visit the video series page by clicking on the button below and we invite you to share your ideas and ask questions in the public discussion forum.

    GO TO VIDEOS AND DISCUSSION FORUM


  • December 20, 2022 4:31 PM | Leya Duigu (Administrator)



    Author: Kathryn Ciccolini DNP, AGACNP-BC, OCN, Mount Sinai Hospital

    Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AlloSCT) is potentially a curative treatment for various hematologic malignancies. Patients referred for evaluation for an AlloSCT to the bone marrow transplant (BMT) program at Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH) are immediately evaluated for donor availability. The process of a donor search is multifaceted requiring a specialized and highly unique skillset. At MSH, our group of transplant nurse coordinators and administrative donor coordinators have extensive training and are one of the very few members in the hospital who perform this exceptionally rewarding patient care coordination. Although, identifying a donor is not so straightforward, let’s delve behind-the scenes to learn more.

    Basics of HLA and Transplantation

    There are many factors that can influence transplantation outcome, one of which is an absolute pre-requisite and a paramount criterion for an alloSCT, donor-recipient histocompatibility (matching of donor and recipient human leukocyte antigen [HLA] protein). In short, HLA proteins are cell-surface inherited proteins found on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and play a major role in the immune defense system’s ability to identify self from non-self (NMDP 2021). The most pertinent genes for transplantation belong to MHC Class I (HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C), and MHC Class II (HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DP) (Furst et al, 2019). Detailed HLA typing is used to determine match grade between recipient and donor and donor eligibility. Matched HLA allows for engraftment and reduces the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft rejection. It is also the most consistent, predictive factor for outcome post HSCT from unrelated donors (Petersdorf, 2016). Donors can be related or unrelated as the source of stem cells resulting in several possible approaches for transplantation. Related donors can either be full match or half match thus siblings, children, parents and even second degree relatives can be considered (NMDP 2022; Sugita, 2019). While an HLA-identical matched sibling donor remains the preferred stem cell source for allogeneic stem cell transplantation, only 30% of patients clinical situation meet this standard leaving the remaining 70% requiring further exploration in other donor sources emphasizing the importance of volunteer donor registries such as National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) (Ayuk, & Balduzzi, 2019; Petersdorf, 2016; Sugita, 2019). Factors to consider for a successful transplant beyond HLA are donor age, CMV status, cell dose, donor sex, pregnancy history, ABO compatibility, and the presence of donor specific HLA antibodies (DSA) (Ayuk, & Balduzzi, 2019).

    Related Donors

    At the initial BMT clinic visit, the patient (recipient) is extensively educated on the donor search process for their transplant and is assessed for their initial HLA lab markers by blood test. The recipient completes a family information sheet which is used to arrange initial HLA related donor HLA blood testing. The selection of related donors per recipient can vary with sometimes having over ten options, all of which the interdisciplinary team manages simultaneously. The HLA results of both recipient and donor(s) are compared to assess their match degree. All potentially qualified donors are notified and assessed for willingness to voluntarily donate to share the results with the recipient. The prospective donors are screened for eligibility and suitability by a transplant physician (who is not primary physician of the recipient) and nurse coordinator which includes a comprehensive history and physical evaluation, infectious disease screening and educational session on modes of donation (bone marrow harvest and peripheral blood stem cell), collection process, and medical clearance. Once a donor is identified, and donation stem cell source preference is established by the clinical team and donor, they are brought to the apheresis center for a tour, the nurse coordinator arranges mobilization therapy, addresses central venous catheter requirements, and organizes their collection.

    Unrelated Donors

    However, when a related donor search is not feasible or did not yield a potential donor, the nurse coordinators initiate a preliminary search through the NMDP, a national resource for facilitating unrelated donor and cord blood stem cell transplants. This is the only organization in the USA that matches unrelated volunteer donors, arranges collections and transportations of stem cells, manages collection and analysis of multi-center data on both donor and cord blood unit (CBU) process, stem cell donation side effects, patient transplant outcomes, and histocompatibility, and maintains a research sample repository (NMDP 2021). Preliminary searches are often proactively done in tandem of conducting related donor searches in the circumstance a suitable related donor is not found. This search identifies potential unrelated stem cell donors and CBU representing a “snap shot’ of potential matches at a given time which can help shape a recipient’s treatment plan. When potential donors are selected from this search after thorough collaborative clinical team discussion, the search is formalized by requesting confirmatory HLA testing on identified potential unrelated donors. The coordinators work closely with NMDP case manager on unrelated donor workup, eligibility and clearance domestically, nationally, and internationally requiring consistent follow up and assurance of donor medical clearance. Once the donor is identified and cleared, the team works with the NMDP case manager on the donor collection, delivery of cells to MSH requiring tremendous logistical coordinator with NMDP, recipient, family, our Cell Therapy Lab, and other members of the BMT program.

    Challenges with Donation Coordination

    Besides the inherently complex process from donor identification to recipient transfusion, there are many donor-related challenges the coordinators address including physical symptoms and often moral distress. Donors may experience feelings of ambivalence, grief, anguish, fear, pressure in being responsible for the recipient’s outcomes, feeling pressured (Gutierrez-Aguirre et al. 2021). The coordinators are heavily relied upon to demystify the process of what it means to be a donor, address psychosocial concerns, dispel misconceptions of donation, educate on expected adverse events associated with donation, and could be faced with donors with religious conviction or occupational barriers (Garcia et al, 2013; NMDP 2022). Further, the coordinators face challenges with donors living in remote areas with limited access to medical care, communicating with donors who are in different time zones and in different languages, governmental import and export restrictions for international donors, and travel limitations for donors with visa issues. A large majority of the donors registered in the database are of Western European ancestry impeding HLA match access for certain ethnic origins (Tiercy, 2016). Our geographic location and the diversity of New York City complicates finding a well-matched related or unrelated donor resulting in exploration of alternative donors allowing for greater degree of mismatch.

    Final Thoughts

    It takes up to an estimated ten hours per recipient to perform preliminary searches, formalize donor searches to clear and collect a donor, and coordinate cell delivery to MSH and recipient admission given exquisite and meticulous logistical coordination and attention. Between 2020 and 2021, 469 related donors were typed requiring coordination of HLA testing and counseling on donor matches and process. I hope this article sheds light on the value of a strong donor search coordination program and the highly unique skills needed to provide quality care within our bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy program at Mount Sinai Hospital. 


    References

    Ayuk, F. & Balduzzi, A. (2019). The EBMT Handbook: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies [Internet]. 7th edition. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554000/

    Furst, D., Neuchel, C., Tsamadou, C., Schrezenmeier, H., & Mytilineos, J. (2019). HLA Matching in Unrelated Stem Cell Transplantation up to Date. Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy, 46(5), 326-336.

    Garcia, M.C, Chapman, J.R., Shaw, P.J., Gottlieb, D.J, Ralph, A., Craig, J.C., & Tong, A. (2013). Motivations, Experiences, and Perspectives of Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donors: Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 19(7), 1046-1058.

    Gutierrez-Aguirre, C.H., Jaime-Perez, J.C., de la Garza-Salazar, F., Guerrero-Gonzalez, G., Guzman-Lopez, A., Ruiza-Arguelles, G.J., Gomez-Almaguer, D., & Cantu-Rodriguez, O.G. (2021). Moral Distress: Its Manifestations in Healthy Donors during Peripheral Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cell Harvesting. Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, 27(10), 853-858.

    National Marrow Donor Program (2021). Manual of Operations Chapter 2: NMDP Search and Matching Process. Retrieved from https://network.bethematchclinical.org/transplant-centers/policies-and-protocols/tc-manual-of-operations/

    National Marrow Donor Program (2022). HLA Matching. Retrieved from: https://bethematch.org/

    Petersdorf, E.W. (2016). Mismatched Unrelated Donor Transplantation. Semin Hematol, 53(4), 230–236.

    Sugita, 2019. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies: an algorithm for donor selection. Rinsho Ketsueki, 60(6), 626-634.

    Tiercy, J. (2016). How to select the best available related or unrelated donor of hematopoietic stem cells? Haematologica, 101(6), 680-687.


  • November 28, 2022 3:18 PM | Anonymous

    About this ICCN Scholarship Series Blog

    In February 2022 ICCN held their second virtual conference, Building Sustainability & Resilience: Global Perspective on Cancer Nursing. ICCN was a three-day event culminating in Plenary 4 simply titled Building Sustainability & Resilience. It was a series of interviews with nursing leaders including ISNCC President Patsy Yates, International Council of Nurses, CEO Howard Caton and European Oncology Nursing Society, President Johan de Munter plus cancer nurses from Afghanistan and Ethiopia discussing the challenges that are facing oncology nurses tasked with providing cancer and palliative care across diverse cultures. This was a highlight of the conference as it showcased the strength and fortitude of nurses who have continued to provide the best possible care during COVID19 pandemic and in some regions war and political challenges. I am pleased to present M. Asif Huassainyar a nurse leader from Afghanistan who was a speaker in plenary 4 and also a recipient of a scholarship from Canadian Oncology Nurses Society [CANO] who writes this blog.

    Suzanne Bishaw
    ISNCC Chair ICCN Portfolio


    Experiences of attending the International Conference in Cancer Nursing (ICCN2022)

    Author: Mohammad Asif Hussainyar, Nursing Instructor, Aga Khan University Academic Projects Afghanistan and Board Member Afghanistan Cancer foundation

    In Afghanistan, there is not any speciality in nursing including oncology nursing. The nurses who are working in the oncology wards are General Nursing Diploma graduates with few training opportunities in oncology. In Afghanistan there is only one oncology ward in one of the tertiary hospitals with two regional chemotherapy centres in Herat and Mazar Provinces.

    The workload caring for oncology patients including those with palliative care needs, is increasing day by day, likely due to borders being closed as a consequence of COVID-19 pandemic and the sudden collapse of government and continuity of care.

    The concept of Palliative Care in Afghanistan is new and few nurses have the knowledge and skills to provide palliative care in for people with cancer and other conditions. However, palliative care was added for the first time to the General Nursing Diploma Programme in 2020.

    As a BSc Nurse who has the experience of one of the premier hospitals and a renowned university (Aga Khan) and a board member of the Afghanistan Cancer Foundation, I am a great advocate for palliative care for those in need. Moreover, I acknowledge the knowledge and skills of those nurses working in the oncology ward need support.

    I appreciate the kind words and fellowship of organisations such as the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC) in bringing together the International Conference in Cancer Nursing which I found extremely valuable; it is important for nurses to discuss and debate trends in oncology nursing.

    This is a call to action to members of the national and international nursing organizations working in health and in particular, in cancer, to support the Afghanistan Nursing Society and also include cancer and palliative care in their curricula as appropriate.  This will lead to a cadre of specialist oncology nurses.  Find out about your global scholarships, visiting fellowships and shared training  - all for nurses in Afghanistan to scale up their knowledge and skills.

    Thank you.

    Asif

  • November 23, 2022 5:13 PM | Leya Duigu (Administrator)



    Authors: 
    Karen Kane McDonnell PhD, RN, Associate Professor, Co-Director, Cancer Survivorship Research Center; Amanda R. Bennett MSN, RN, PhD Student; & Vera Bratnichenko MSN, RN, PhD Student; College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States


    November brings awareness to individuals living with lung cancer and their family members and friends. Regardless of the prognosis, a diagnosis of lung cancer creates substantial physical, emotional, and financial challenges on individuals, families, communities, health systems, and countries.1 Lung cancer continues to be the most common cancer type and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Around the globe, the general cancer burden is high and increasing.The highest incidence rates of lung cancer are observed in parts of North America, in East Asia, and in parts of central and eastern Europe.1

    There is good news which fosters HOPE! The number of new lung cancer diagnoses is declining steadily in some countries. The American Cancer Society describes trends in cancer death rates as the best measure of progress against cancer. In the United States, lung cancer death rates declined by 56% since 1990 in men and 32% since 2002 in women. These improvements in lung cancer survival are due to declines in cigarette smoking and advances in early detection and treatments, mostly for non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) the more common classification of lung cancer (NSCLC; 82%).2 In recent years, more individuals with lung cancer are being diagnosed when the cancer is at an early stage and living longer as a result. The rate of localized-stage disease diagnoses increased by 4.5% yearly from 2014 to 2018, while there were steep declines in advanced disease diagnoses. The result was an overall increase in 3-year survival rates (from 21% to 31%).2.3

    It is widely accepted that the major cause of lung cancer is tobacco smoking, which is responsible for 80–85% of lung cancer cases worldwide. The World Health Organization describes tobacco use as a global epidemic.4 Tobacco smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals and at least 69 carcinogens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and benzene. About 8 out of 10 (81%) deaths from lung cancer are expected to be caused from smoking cigarettes. Both the amount and how long someone smokes increase the risk of dying from lung cancer. People who smoke are about 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who never smoked. Second-hand smoke causes almost 3% of new diagnoses of lung cancer and is expected to cause about 3% of deaths. After smoking, the next leading cause of lung cancer is exposure to radon gas, which is released from soil and can build up indoors. Relative to the hazards of smoking cigarettes and cigars, the full hazard profile presented by electronic nicotine delivery systems (NEDS) and by cannabis smoking are largely unknown at this time.2,3,4

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common smoking-related illness in the world and the most common co-morbidity for persons with lung cancer. Even though, it is well established that COPD is associated with the risk of lung cancer it is often under-emphasized as a comorbidity for those with lung cancer.5 Clinically, the co-existence of lung cancer and COPD can have a dramatic impact on the patient’s quality of life (QOL) and survival.5

    Optimal treatment of concurrent lung cancer and COPD is crucial to the success of lung cancer therapy. Oncology and advanced practice nurses can play an essential role in these patients’ care, which requires early and close attention to prevention, assessment, treatment, and surveillance of both diseases, related symptomatology, and lifestyle behaviors. Patients with lung cancer and COPD benefit from a multidisciplinary disease management approach throughout their illnesses to ensure maximum QOL and functional status. In collaboration with a team that includes pulmonologists and oncology physicians, oncology nurses can help improve these patients’ health outcomes using pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments and symptom management. More clinical research is needed to expand our understanding of the management of patients with this twofold disease burden, to increase the use of existing evidence-based interventions, and to develop, and test new QOL-boosting interventions.5

    The outlook is more promising than ever for individuals with lung cancer at all stages of disease with and without COPD. Around the world, nurses who care for persons with a history or current diagnosis of lung cancer can make a positive impact. The Position Statement on Cancer Nursing’s Potential to Reduce the Growing Burden of Cancer Across the World describes nurses as “essential” to cancer control.6 The Call to Action is clear. It is our role as nurses to reduce the global burden of cancer across the cancer trajectory. 

    References:
    1.    Wild, C. P., Weiderpass, E., & Stewart, B. W. (Eds.) (2020). World Cancer Report: Cancer Research for Cancer Prevention. International Agency for Research on Cancer. http://publications.iarc.fr/586.

    2.    Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D., Fuchs, H. E., & Jemal, A. (2022). Cancer statistics, 2022. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 72(1), 7–33. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21708

    3.    American Cancer Society. (2022). Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures 2022–2024.

    4.    World Health Organization. (2021). WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2021: Addressing new and emerging products. World Health Organization.

    5.    Newsome, B. R., McDonnell, K. K., Hucks, J., & Estrada, R. D. (2018). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: clinical implications for patients with lung cancer. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 22(2), 184.

    6.    Yates, P., Charalambous, A., Fennimore, L., Nevidjon, B., So, W. K., Suh, E. E., Woodford, E. Young, A. (2020). Position Statement on Cancer Nursing’s Potential to Reduce the Growing Burden of Cancer Across the World. Cancer Nursing, 43(6) 433-435. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000900

    Disclosure: An American Cancer Society (ACS) Mentored Research Scholar Grant support Dr. Karen Kane McDonnell [#MRSG-17-152-01].

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