Train the Trainer Program Heads East

Early November marked the launch of the ONS Breast Cancer Training of Trainers Program in Bethlehem, West Bank, and Amman, Jordan.  ONS has been working  for more than a year with the U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research (PBCAR) to develop a modular program based on the ONS Site Specific Series: Breast Cancer online course.

ONS Responds to Dr. Lung Love

Recently, the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) launched an ad campaign for Lung Cancer Awareness Month that features a video starring Dr. Lung Love. After hearing from members and the nursing community, CEO Paula Rieger, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, FAAN spoke with the LCA to address their concerns. Read a letter to the members from ONS President Brenda Nevidjon, RN, MSN, FAAN, for more information.

ONS Connect: Blurring the Roles

Oncology nurses care for patients compassionately, from diagnosis to cure or death. We get to know patients and their families intimately. But when the person with cancer is a family member, the role of oncology nurse can get blurred with the role of spouse, child, sibling, or grandchild. No statistics are available on the number of oncology nurses who are involved in the care of a family member. However, those nurses’ experiences when caring for a family member are different than for non-nurses, as two ONS members share in the November issue of ONS Connect.

Celebs Celebrate Cancer Survivorship

A television special broadcast nationally on Thanksgiving night will celebrate skating, song, and survivorship. “Kaleidoscope” is designed to recognize women and the key role they play in the battle against cancer—as patients, caregivers, and advocates. Its mission is to address issues surrounding women and cancer by educating women to be proactive with their health and by honoring all cancer survivors.

ONS Responds to Update on Breast Cancer Screening

Evidence regarding the benefits of mammography screening and breast self-examination has been conflicting, and recently announced guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force further add to the dialogue about this important issue. The task force’s update recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40–49 and teaching breast self-examinations. This is a change from the previous recommendation developed in 2002 that recommended routine screening mammography in women aged 40–49 every one to two years and stated that insufficient evidence existed at that time to recommend or not recommend breast self-examination instruction.

ONS strongly supports the use of evidence-based research in clinical decision making. The ONS Position on Breast Cancer Screening was developed in 2006 and reflected the most up-to-date research at that time. In light of the new evidence, the ONS Board of Directors will review its position and consider the possibility of a revision of its statement. In the meantime, ONS stands by its position that "the benefits, risks, and potential limitations of breast self-exam, clinical breast exam, and mammography need to be discussed with each woman and tailored to her risk factor assessment."