European Oncology Nursing Society Spring Convention (EONS-8)

The Macmillan Weight and Eating studies surveyed over 300 patients and found that over two thirds of patients have difficulty with family members regarding eating habits and weight loss. Prof Jane Hopkinson led part of the studies and reported two key findings: 1.) The patient’s need to understand what an appropriate diet would be for them while experiencing weight loss. 2.) The need for nurses to support and educate families on how they might support a patient dealing with involuntary weight loss. The causes for this type of weight loss are the cancer itself, bodily problems such as swallowing difficulties or sore throat, and psychosocial pressures. Prof Hopkinson stresses the need to move past giving advice and consider the emotions and negative feelings that patients have when they have no control over weight loss. Filming Supported by Amgen

Talking with ecancer at the European Oncology Nursing Society annual meeting in Geneva, Jane Cockle-Hearne addresses the issues surrounding the supportive care of men with prostate cancer. The main issue addressed is the lack of consensus on guidelines on how to support men with prostate cancer. Ms Cockle-Hearne discusses a study, conducted to find what male patients are most concerned about during treatment and active surveillance, which found that psychological support was greatly needed in addition to supportive care. Filming Supported by Amgen

Francoise Charnay Sonnek discusses the importance of knowledge transfer in cancer care and cancer management. There is a great need to develop specific and continuing education programmes for nurses and young scientists, as on average a person only retains 7% of information from a lesson without ‘action learning’. ‘Action learning’ is when participants put into practice what they have learned by discussing and evaluating that information with other participants. Filming Supported by Amgen

Prof Federico Bozzetti talks to ecancer at the European Oncology Nursing Society annual meeting in Geneva, April 2012, on the nutrition of cancer patients. Prof Bozzetti states that there is too much emphasis on the disease when weight loss in a patient presents during treatment. Weight loss is a prognostic, negative index on negative quality of life and can indicate complications in cases of aggressive tumours. In order to combat the side effect of weight loss, supplements could be combined with medication and treatment in order to combat the negative effects of chemotherapy and other medications. Nutrition and supplements can also have an effect on the epidemiology of diseases, though this point is very contested. Filming Supported by Amgen

ecancertv talks to Esther Green of the ISNCC at the European Oncology Nursing Society annual meeting in Geneva about the need to increase international awareness of cancer prevention. The main focus areas in prevention are health education, good health promotion strategies, and teaching a healthy lifestyle and nutrition. Things like alcohol abuse, obesity and lifestyle issues are linked closely to many chronic diseases, especially cancer. However, Ms Green states that government and industry are not listening to the messages of patients and doctors. Tobacco control has increased in North America and has begun in Europe, but a larger problem is education on diet and the detriments of fast food. The main goal in this program is to teach clinicians how to educate patients about these lifestyle choices. In addition, Ms Green talks about the shift in focus from treating cancer to early screening and immunisation. Filming Supported by Amgen

Prof Daniel Kelly talks to ecancer at the 8th European Oncology Nursing Society annual meeting in Geneva, April 2012. Young people will have a different disease journey and are prone to different types of cancer than adults. Awareness needs to be raised about symptoms in young people. Specialist teenage cancer units have been set up in the UK funded by charity which include psychosocial care to help patients deal with the emotional aspects as well as treating the cancer effectively. Diagnostic delay studies and effective models of care can help in the future, bearing in mind that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to cancer care.

Prof Cornelia Ruland talks to ecancer at the 8th European Oncology Nursing Society annual meeting in Geneva, April 2012. The internet can be a great resource for helping patients in their own homes, with social networks, counselling, symptom monitoring, advice from healthcare providers, and patient forums.

Birgitte Grube, President of the European Society of Oncology Nurses talks to ecancer at the society's 8th annual meeting in Geneva, April 2012. Birgitte discusses working more closely with patients with an approach that takes into account not only genetics and treatment but a holisitic approach inlcuding psychosocial issues. EONS is now involved with education of healthcare professionals and taking the lead in helping socially disadvantaged groups. There is potential for oncology nurses to have greater involvement in the political field to benefit the patient.

Anne-Elizabeth Murphy, an oncology nurse at Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Switzerland, talks to ecancer at the European Oncology Nursing Society annual meeting in Geneva, April 2012. Ms Murphy discusses the importance of nurses being aware of the genetics behind cancer as most treatment is now tailored to the genome of the patient. Nurses have to explain to patients why certain treatments may not apply due to genetics. Education in basic and post-graduate levels can achieve better communication between patient and nurse and also increased awareness at diagnosis.

Dr Lund-Nielsen talks to ecancer at the European Oncology Nursing Society annual meeting in Geneva, April 2012. 5-10% of all cancer patients will suffer from a wound which is growing outside the body. These are often overlooked in cancer care and require special treatment to alleviate. Bacterial infection is a risk which needs to be born in mind, and although they can not often be cured, palliative care is available such as honey bandages or silver bandages. Psychological techniques such as dialogues and relaxation training is also used. Dr Lund-Nielsen also discusses her study in to different techniques.

Anita Margulies talks to ecancer at the 8th European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) annual meeting in Geneva, April 2012. EONS and the Oncology Nursing Society are implementing guidelines on 5 symptoms resulting from the cancer itself and the treatment: Dyspnea, lymphoedema, pain, peripheral neuropathy and radiation dermatitis. The guidelines have been reviewed by an expert nursing committee as part of the EPAAC project. Europe lags behind the US in implementing the latest guidelines on symptom management for cancer patients; a training workshop has been set up in Brussels to address this issue.