Racial differences in employment and cost-management behaviors in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: Little is known about racial variations in the financial impact of cancer care. Using data from a national survey of racially diverse patients with metastatic breast cancer, we examined racial/ethnic patterns in employment and cost-management (i.e.

Patient navigation for complex care patients in the emergency department: a survey of oncology patient navigators.

Purpose: Emergency departments (EDs) care for patients with complex medical problems who require a coordinated care approach. Patient navigation services, which help assist patients with care coordination, have been widely implemented for patients with cancer in a variety of settings, but this approach has not been described in the ED. We sought to better understand the potential for ED-based patient navigation services from the perspective of individuals currently providing these services in other settings.

5-Fluorouracil and Capecitabine: Assessment and Treatment of Uncommon Early-Onset Severe Toxicities Associated With Administration.

Background: Uncommon early-onset severe toxicities from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and capecitabine can be fatal if early warning signs are not recognized and treated promptly.

Objectives: This article delineates the differences between expected side effects and uncommon early-onset severe toxicities from 5-FU and capecitabine. It also provides background for understanding the reasons patients may develop these toxicities and reviews the efficacy of standard supportive care against a novel therapy (uridine triacetate).

Nurse Navigator Core Competencies: An Update to Reflect the Evolution of the Role.

Background: The Oncology Nursing Society published Oncology Nurse Navigator (ONN) Core Competencies in 2013. However, a 2016 role delineation study (RDS) indicated that the role had evolved since their release. The RDS also indicated that a growing number of nurse navigators have extensive oncology and navigation experience.

Oncology navigators' perceptions of cancer-related financial burden and financial assistance resources.

Introduction: As the cost of cancer treatment continues to rise, many patients are faced with significant emotional and financial burden. Oncology navigators guide patients through many aspects of care and therefore may be especially aware of patients' financial distress. Our objective was to explore navigators' perception of their patients' financial burden and their role in addressing financial needs.

Patient-reported outcome measures suitable to assessment of patient navigation.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are measures completed by patients to capture outcomes that are meaningful and valued by patients. To help standardize PRO measures in patient navigation research and program evaluation, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Working Group (PROWG) was convened as part of the American Cancer Society's National Patient Navigator Leadership Summit.

Methods: The PROWG consisted of clinicians, researchers, and program managers from a variety of perspectives who developed a set of recommended PRO measures across the cancer continuum (ie, screening, diagnostic follow-up, treatment, survivorship, end of life) as well as those useful for assessing family caregivers.