The CNSA are excited to celebrate the inaugural Cancer Nurses Day 2024! We explore the invaluable impact that Cancer Nurses have on the patient experience and how the impact reaches beyond the physical to emotional support, educational resourcing, and even navigating the hospital ecosystem. Julie McCrossin AM, radio broadcaster, journalist and cancer survivor herself, shares her experiences with three consumers who have experience being treated in the oncology setting across Australia: Melissa Lewis, Head of Medical Partnerships at MooGoo SkinCare, Maria Waton, McGrath Breast Cancer Specialist Nurse, Clinical Lead in Breast Cancer Care and Clinical Lead for McGrath in WA; as well as Vince Severino from Sydney.

The proactive management of skin during treatment for cancer is so important for many reasons, including patient comfort and optimising adherence to therapy. We discuss common skin issues seen in the clinic and practical tips to manage these, along with the new guidelines available. Justin Hargreaves, Nurse Practitioner in Medical Oncology and Chair of the CNSA Nurse Practitioner Specialist Practice Network is joined by Professor Victoria Mar, Director of the Victoria Melanoma Service at the Alfred and Adjunct Professor at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, as well as Gurpreet Grewal, McGrath Breast Care Nurse at the Alfred in Melbourne

Important Links:

Guidelines

Skin | eviQ

https://www.mdpi.com/2867986

Visit www.laroche-posay.com.au for further information on the supportive skincare sets. ( https://www.laroche-posay.com.au/skincare/shop-by/skincare-sets/supportive-skin-care-set/LRP_0014.html)

Request supportive skincare trial kits, guidelines or any other information https://www.laroche-posay.com.au/customer-service-contact-us.html (healthcare professionals only).

In this CNSA Podcast, we demystify the support options and processes available to mesothelioma patients, including the social, financial & legal aspects. CNSA CEO, Jemma Still, is joined by Beth Ivimey, Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse and Raelene Lingam, Legal Counsel from Slater and Gordon’s New South Wales Asbestos & Dust Diseases team. The discussion incudes the impact of mesothelioma on patients and their carers, how to support the patient including social worker and legal support as well as new treatment advances.

Nurse referral for support & resources: ADDRI NURSE SUPPORT CO ORDINATORS - 02 97679800

CANCER COUNCIL IN ANY STATE OF NSW

MESO UK is a great online resource & support group that welcomes Australians.

International Thoracic Oncology Nurses Forum - ITONF

Please contact ITONF to locate a lung cancer nurse in the state where you live if a lung cancer nurse is not employed in your hospital for support for yourself & your patient.

In our latest CNSA podcast episode, we discuss The Evolving Treatment Landscape in Advanced Endometrial Cancer. Anne Mellon, CNSA President and GynaeOncology CNC in Newcastle, is joined by Associate Professor Yoland Antill, a Medical Oncologist and Cancer Genetics specialist in Melbourne and Nicole Kinnane, a Project Manager and Nurse coordinator at the Australian Survivorship Centre in Melbourne. We talk about endometrial cancer and its impact on patients in Australia, the latest treatment advances, particularly the role of immunotherapy, the AE management and nuances in patient management strategies.

This podcast was sponsored by GSK. GSK had no role in development of content or speaker selection.

This is an introduction the latest episode Podcast, where we discuss Triple Negative Breast Cancer and the role of IO therapy. Jenny Gilchrist, a Nurse Practitioner in Breast Oncology at Macquarie University Health Services Centre and Chief Clinical Lead for the Metastatic McGrath Breast Cancer nurses, is joined by Melanie Rabbets, Clinical Nurse Practitioner at Blacktown Hospital. . This podcast must be accessed via the member portal at https://www.cnsa.org.au/congressevents/podcast

CNSA has big plans for the next twelve months, with over 30 webinars scheduled; Breast Cancer, Management and Educator Communities of Practice tackling relevant and practical topics; and of course the Annual Congress in June. Jemma Still, Chief Executive Officer Cancer Nurses Society of Australia give a brief insight into what is coming for 2024.

In this Podcast, we discuss The Changing Landscape in Ovarian Cancer, including HRD testing. The shifting treatment of ovarian cancer in Australia, including the diagnostics testing changes with regards to HRD has implications for Nurses in monitoring and managing of patients. Bronwyn Jennings, Gynaecology Oncology Clinical Nurse Consultant, Mater Health in Queensland is joined by Associate Professor Mahesh Iddawela, a clinician-scientist interested in precision oncology, genomics and gynaecological cancer, as well as running the cancer survivorship clinic at The Alfred, Melbourne and also Susie O’Keefe, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Sunshine Coast Hospital..

In Episode Three of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia podcast series, we discuss The Symptom and Urgent review Clinics (SURC) and the model of care . SURC Models are a nurse-led model of care for people receiving cancer care in the ambulatory setting. Angela Mellerick is a nurse in the ambulatory cancer services setting for the past 20 years and she is joined in this discussion by Georgina Akers, Senior Policy Officer at Cancer Planning Integration and Monitoring, Victorian Dept of Health and Dr Polly Dufton from Austin Health in Melbourne., Polly was the project lead for one of the pilot sites included in the 2018 SURC pilot. The discussion highlights the SURC models in Victoria, how they developed and what we have learned from their implementation and delivery that can be shared with the CNSA community.

In the second episode of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia podcast series, we discuss Antibody- Drug Conjugates (ADCs) . ADCs are a new type of cancer treatment that combines the targeting ability of antibodies with the potency of chemotherapy drugs. Justin Hargreaves Medical Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Bendigo Health Cancer Centre and Chair of the CNSA Specialist Practice Network is joined by Gillian Kruss, Metastatic Breast Cancer Nurse Practitioner at Monash Health and Marissa Stevens, Oncology Nurse Practitioner at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, to discuss the latest advances in ADC therapy and specifically the nursing management of metastatic triple negative breast cancer patients who are receiving Trodelvy (Sacituzumab govitecan).

In this first episode of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia Podcast series, we discuss the cancer nurses workforce now and in the future. We talk about the needs and requirements of the profession and what CNSA is doing to lead this initiative.

Diane Davey, Board member of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia and Operation Manager of Cancer Services at Aubrey / Wodonga, joins Anne Mellon, CNSA President and Gynae Oncology CNC at Newcastle, and Professor Kate White from Sydney Health District, Professor of Cancer Nursing to delve further into this topic.