Tag: nursing
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month and High Risk Screening
Breast Cancer Awareness Month continues through the month of October! Do you know someone who has been affected by breast cancer? Not only do I take care of patients who have breast cancer, but I have many family members who have been impacted by this disease. Personally, I fall into a high risk category, which…
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
It’s that time of year! Breast cancer awareness month. An average woman has a 1 in 8 chance of getting breast cancer in her lifetime or about 13%. Let’s talk a little bit about when breast cancer screening should take place for a woman of average risk: According to the American Cancer Society, women of…
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Oncology Hot Topics-What is BiTE Therapy?
BiTE therapy is becoming more widely used, especially with blood cancers (think things like leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma). It can also be used with certain solid tumors (such as lung cancer). BiTE stands for bispecific antibody therapy. These types of treatments are also known simply as “bispecifics.” While there are different forms of these…
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Nursing Burnout and “Quiet Quitting”
I had the opportunity to go to a nursing conference recently where one of the speakers discussed burnout and the importance of re-charging our batteries. He also talked about “quiet quitting” and signs that someone has done so (or is getting close). Have you ever noticed these in a coworker? Becoming quiet at work– not…
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Same Salary/Same Job/Same Life
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do/with your one wild and precious life?” (Mary Oliver, The Summer Day) I’ve been on a Mary Oliver kick, especially since watching this documentary from PBS that popped up on YouTube. And I’m thinking about the prompt, if the salary was the same, what job would you…
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Life Changer
One life-changing tip: Small amounts add up. Whether that’s writing, studying, doing yoga, saving money, eating a little healthier, or going for a walk. Five minutes walking is better than none. One carrot stick is better than none! Five dollars saved is better than none. I used this tip a lot during nursing school. I’d…
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Infusion Center Questions: “What If I React?”
It’s a question I hear pretty often. “What if I react to my infusion?” Whether it’s an iron infusion, a chemotherapy infusion, or one of the other infusions we give, it’s a valid question. What happens next? Here’s a brief overview of what your nurse will do if you react to your infusion: As soon…
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“Smart Chemo”/Antibody Drug Conjugates and Breast Cancer
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are transforming oncology treatment for breast cancer patients (and other patients, too! They can be used in different cancer treatment regimens.) ADCs are founded in the concept of a “magic bullet,” which was developed by Paul Ehrlich, the founder of chemotherapy treatment. Paul Ehrlich’s work was done over 100 years ago- he…
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Things Your Oncology Nurse Says Daily-Outpatient Edition!
“Let’s check your labs.” We check labs a lot! We want to make sure your “counts” are good for chemo. Or, we might check them if you come in for a triage visit to make sure that your hemoglobin, white blood cells, and platelets are okay. Sometimes, the problem is electrolytes like potassium, calcium, or…
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Why Small Meals Help During Cancer: A Nursing Perspective
“Everything tastes funny.” I hear this from patients all the time. When you’re going through cancer treatment, one of the most frustrating challenges can be eating. Food might not taste the same. “Everything tastes like cardboard” is something I hear on an almost weekly basis. Between nausea, fatigue, and low appetite, full meals can feel…
