Focusing on Young Nonsmokers With Lung Cancer

A surprising demographic is drawing the attention of clinicians working in the lung cancer space: patients aged just 20 to 40 years at diagnosis. Many are women. Many are fit. They don’t smoke. Why is this population getting lung cancer? Our cover story explores this mystery, describing the challenges faced by this particular demographic and how the oncology community is supporting these patients.

Sharon Cavone, BSN, RN, OCN, and others explain how clinicians are attempting to identify lung cancer in young people at an earlier stage. They describe some of these patients’ unique issues, what resources are available and which are lacking, and nurse navi­gators’ vital role in helping these young patients along their lung cancer journey.

This month’s feature article highlights the great lengths to which hospice staff went to grant a terminal patient in Southern California his final wish—to show his 6-year-old daughter snow.

Fast Facts for the Frontline explores complementary therapies for prostate cancer. Professionally Speaking provides nurses with ideas for advising patients on how to talk with their children about cancer. Also, A nurse from Duquesne University describes how she designed a study to learn more about the inter­personal communication components of navigation for patients with breast cancer.

This issue’s Continuing Education section covers news and developments in the areas of liver cancer, lymphoma, brain cancer, kidney cancer, and multiple myeloma.

In her last Nurse’s Notes column, retiring editor in chief Lisa Schulmeister, MN, RN, FAAN, seeks to inspire nurse writers to share their expertise.

Under Lisa’s leadership, Oncology Nursing News^® has grown into an established publication that informs, enlightens, and enhances the knowledge and professionalism of its readers. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Lisa for her 12 years as editor in chief of our publication.

As always, we hope you find this issue engaging and informative. Thank you for reading.

Mike Hennessy, Sr

Chairman and CEO