Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with mesothelioma and their carers
This service evaluation focuses on the effects of the pandemic on patients and their carers
31 Mar 2021
Liz Darlison
Mesothelioma: are nurses being put at risk in the workplace?
The cancer, caused by asbestos, could affect more staff than statistics suggest
02 Nov 2020
Impact of genome sequencing on cancer research and treatment
Since the sequence of the human genome was first published in 2003, nowhere has its effect been more apparent than in the field of cancer research and, more recently, in cancer treatment. The data obtained from sequencing the genomes of many cancers have identified the gene damage that caused those cancers to develop. The products of these genes represent potential targets for new therapeutic agents. This has already led to new drugs being developed and some of these have now been in clinical use for several years. In some cases, the results of using these drugs have been rapid and impressive, but the effects have generally been short lived with cancer cells quickly developing resistance and the cancers recurring. However, genome sequencing has been able to provide an explanation for such drug resistance providing additional new targets for therapeutic intervention and a second wave of new drugs are being developed to combat this problem. This article explains how and why tumours become resistant to the drugs that have been developed and how further genome analysis provides routes to combat resistance. The future for personalised genome analysis in the field of cancer treatment is considered. A glossary of the terms used in this article is provided on page 25.
10 Dec 2015
The experience of care for people affected by mesothelioma
This article reports on an analysis of patient and carer free-text comments received in response to the first National Mesothelioma Experience Survey conducted in the UK. It provided people affected by mesothelioma with an opportunity to give feedback on the management and support they received from healthcare services. The findings highlight the relevance of the chief nursing officer for England’s Compassion in Practice strategy and the 6Cs initiative, in particular the core values of compassion, communication and competence, to the delivery of high quality services and excellent health and wellbeing outcomes.
11 Mar 2015
Findings from the National Mesothelioma Experience Survey
This article reports on the results of the National Mesothelioma Experience Survey, which provided people with mesothelioma, and their families and carers, with an opportunity to comment on the management and support they received from healthcare services. The findings highlight a need to improve assistance with the physical, emotional and social effects of mesothelioma, and suggest that those with peritoneal mesothelioma may experience poorer care than those with pleural disease.
07 Apr 2014
An analysis of lung cancer clinical nurse specialist workload and value
In today’s healthcare system there is much controversy regarding the role and value of clinical nurse specialists. This article describes a mixed-method approach to the workload of lung cancer clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and translates this into financial value. It calculates, for example, that these specialists work an average of 316.8 hours unpaid overtime each per year, and estimates on the basis of the data gathered that, as a group, CNSs in England contribute 71,280 hours of unpaid overtime – or £1,475,496 – to the health economy annually. The data underline the effectiveness of care these nurse specialists give to patients with lung cancer and their value to their trusts. abstract
01 Dec 2008
Identifying research priorities for nurse specialists in lung cancer care
Research into lung cancer undertaken by nurses in clinical practice is limited. This paper reports the findings of a survey of opinion leaders to identify the research priorities of nurse specialists working with patients who have lung cancer. Eight areas were identified. These were 1) exploring the impact of lung cancer; 2) information needs of patients and carers; 3) impact of the role of the lung cancer nurse specialist; 4) symptom management; 5) exploring the impact of mesothelioma; 6) organisation of care; 7) exploring the role of the lung cancer nurse specialist; and 8) exploring the needs of patients undergoing surgery. The findings of this study may provide guidance in developing clinically relevant programmes for nursing research in lung cancer care.
01 Nov 2007