Tag: oncology
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Metastatic Lung Cancer- Why Aren’t More People Getting Treated? (And what we can do about it).
Recently, a disheartening study from JAMA Oncology came out, showing that less than half of all people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer receive treatment. This is despite there being many options available which can increase life expectancy by years. The study looked at over 250,000 people over a 15-year period. So why aren’t people…
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3 Things I Tell Patients to Bring to Chemo
If you or someone you know is starting chemo, this one’s for you. People don’t always know what to bring. Here are the 3 things I tell people to bring along, especially for their first day and if they are going to be there a long day of treatment: #1 A blanket or hoodie Bring…
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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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3 Cancer Breakthroughs Everyone’s Talking About in 2026
There are actually some exciting things happening in the research world of oncology right now, even if you’re not a scientist! There are developments in not only treating, but monitoring, detecting, and preventing cancers, including some of the deadliest. These aren’t magic cures, but are gaining serious momentum. Here are three that experts are especially…
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What Your Oncology Nurse Wishes You Knew Before Starting Chemotherapy
Starting chemotherapy can feel overwhelming—physically, emotionally, and mentally. As an oncology nurse, I’ve cared for patients at every stage of treatment, and one thing is almost always true: what people expect is not what it actually is. Expectations are based on ideas or stories or movies. Or what happened to your mom’s second cousin. But…
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Unreasonable Hospitality in Healthcare: Applying Hospitality Industry Ideas to the Healthcare Experience
It’s something that’s been coming up for a while. Will Guidara’s book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, is inspirational and food for thought, whatever industry you’re in. If you haven’t read it, it’s the idea of going above and beyond, tailoring someone’s experience specifically to them. He talks…
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A Change for the Better
It can be hard to make a change. I graduated nursing school in the middle of COVID, having gone back after my kids were older and my ex and I had separated. I worked full-time in retail and then hospital pharmacies, going to nursing school part-time. After working for about a year on my unit,…
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Understanding Common Chemotherapy Side Effects (Part 1)
There are a wide range of side effects associated with chemotherapy treatments. Some are serious while others are more a nuisance. Here’s a look at seven common side effects and ways to cope. Fatigue Fatigue, or tiredness, is one of the most common complaints that I hear from patients. Depending on the treatment regimen, there…
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Chemotherapy Versus Targeted Therapy Versus Immunotherapy- What’s the Difference?
As a chemo nurse, I hear it all the time. My patient will see me come up to their infusion chair with my gown on, double gloving, grabbing a face shield, and ask- “Is this my chemotherapy? Or is this the other one? The immuno one?” I get it. It can be confusing! Patients often…
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Understanding
“What’s something most people don’t understand?” Something most people don’t understand is how much things can change in an instant. Or maybe it’s more like people choose not to recognize this. It’s easier to think that “it will never happen to me.” I see a lot of patients on a weekly basis who are getting…
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