Osteoporosis: Common Side Effect.

For osteoporosis, standards of care are based on emerging evidence-based practice. Osteopenia, bone density that is lower than normal, is a less severe form of bone loss than osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease, characterized by low mineral bone mass and microdeterioration of bone tissue.

Oncology Nurse Practitioner Role: Recommendations From the Oncology Nursing Society's Nurse Practitioner Summit.

Background: Oncology nurse practitioners (ONPs) are advanced practice RNs prepared at the graduate level with high-level knowledge and skills in oncology. Because of challenges in educational programs and variability in the scope of practice at the state and institutional level, many ONPs are challenged to practice to the full extent of their education, certification, and licensure.

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to review issues affecting the education and practice patterns of ONPs and to identify solutions to address the challenges that exist for ONPs.

Promoting High-Quality Cancer Care and Equity Through Disciplinary Diversity in Team Composition.

Disciplinary diversity in team composition is a valuable vehicle for oncology care teams to provide high-quality, person-centered comprehensive care. Such diversity facilitates care that effectively addresses the complex needs (biologic, psychosocial, and spiritual) of the whole person. The concept of professional or disciplinary diversity centers on differences in function, education, and culture, reflecting variety and heterogeneity in the perspectives of team members contributing to care.

Impact of body mass index and weight fluctuation on lymphedema risk in patients treated for breast cancer.

Identifying risk factors for lymphedema in patients treated for breast cancer has become increasingly important, given the current lack of standardization surrounding diagnosis and treatment. Reports on the association of body mass index (BMI) and weight change with lymphedema risk are conflicting. We sought to examine the impact of pre-operative BMI and post-treatment weight change on the incidence of lymphedema.

Standardized method for quantification of developing lymphedema in patients treated for breast cancer.

Purpose: To develop a simple and practical formula for quantifying breast cancer-related lymphedema, accounting for both the asymmetry of upper extremities' volumes and their temporal changes.

Methods And Materials: We analyzed bilateral perometer measurements of the upper extremity in a series of 677 women who prospectively underwent lymphedema screening during treatment for unilateral breast cancer at Massachusetts General Hospital between August 2005 and November 2008. Four sources of variation were analyzed: between repeated measurements on the same arm at the same session; between both arms at baseline (preoperative) visit; in follow-up measurements; and between patients.

Demystifying lymphedema: development of the lymphedema putting evidence into practice card.

Cancer treatment is the leading cause of lymphedema in developed countries. Development and severity of lymphedema have a significant impact on comfort, psychological distress, and overall quality of life. Incidence statistics have ranged from 5%-60%, with onset of symptoms ranging from immediately after treatment to 30 years after treatment.

Management of comorbid diabetes and cancer.

Diabetes mellitus is a frequent comorbidity of cancer patients. The growing epidemic of diabetes is anticipated to have tremendous impact on health care. Diabetes may negatively impact both cancer risk and outcomes of treatment.

Cardiotoxicity and capecitabine: a case report.

Oral fluoropyrimidines increasingly are being developed and studied as a novel treatment for breast, colorectal, and other cancers. Fluoropyrimidines are designed to generate 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) preferentially within tumors. Cardiotoxicity is a rare complication associated with 5-FU and oral fluoropyrimidine treatments.