EONS Summer Newsletter 2024

Join us for the EONS17 Congress from 14 - 16 September 2024 at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain, as we mark a significant milestone: 40 Years of European Cancer Nursing. This special anniversary event is themed “Shaping the Future of Healthcare”, reflecting on the progress made in the field and exploring new directions for the future.

What to expect:

• High-Quality Sessions: Engage with a diverse range of topics relevant to cancer nursing, delivered by leading experts.
• Notable Speakers: Hear from distinguished professionals and thought leaders who will share their insights and experiences.
• Celebratory Events: Join us in celebrating four decades of advancement in cancer care with networking opportunities and special activities.
• Special Symposia: Stay tuned for details on focused discussions and workshops that will address emerging trends and innovations in cancer nursing.

This congress is a unique opportunity to connect with peers, gain new knowledge, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of cancer nursing. Don’t miss out—register today and be a part of shaping the future of healthcare!

REGISTER FOR THE N.U.R.T.U.R.E. WORKSHOP AT EONS17 – ESMO 2024

The N.U.R.T.U.R.E. (Nurses Uniting for Resilience, Training, and Emotional Support in Cancer Care) workshop, is an initiative set to take place at the EONS17 Conference during ESMO 2024. This workshop is designed to provide invaluable support to cancer nurses across Europe. To secure your place, please fill out the registration form. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

We are pleased to announce the successful applicants for the Cancer Nursing Fund (CNF) grant of €650 to attend the EONS17 conference. This bursary will support ten cancer nurses, including four from the host country, the Spanish National Society. The grant will cover travel, accommodation, and/or registration fees for EONS17. Congratulations to all the recipients!

The application deadline for the EONS Early Career Research Grant 2024 has been extended to Sunday, 11 August 2024, at noon! This grant, offering up to €2500, supports early-career cancer nurses in conducting research projects within their practice. It is open to EONS members with less than ten years of clinical experience, holding a pre-doctoral degree or having defended their PhD within the past 12 months. Proposals should focus on nurses working in clinical settings, with preference given to those without a previous EONS grant.

Francesca Cardone, a member of the Early Career Nurse Working Group, has written a new article about the important role of caregivers in oncology settings. With rising cancer incidence and extended survival rates, caregivers—both formal (paid professionals) and informal (unpaid family members and friends)—are increasingly crucial in providing comprehensive support to patients. The article highlights the growing need for effective support systems to sustain the well-being of patients and their caregivers alike.

On June 19, 2024, the EU4Health Stakeholders' Conference was held in Brussels, focusing on health priorities and future initiatives. Key topics like including cancer, were discussed, with EONS President Virpi Sulosaari sharing insights from the INTERACT EUROPE project. The conference also reviewed the initial outcomes of the EU4Health Stakeholders' Consultation with diverse stakeholders from patient groups, civil society, healthcare, academia, business, and government authorities participating.

REFLECTION FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT HELENA 

ON MASCC CONFERENCE

From June 27- 29, President-Elect Helena Ullgren and several EONS board members attended the MASCC conference in Lille, France. MASCC, a multidisciplinary organisation focused on supportive care, hosted the event with the Society for Oral Oncology (ISOO) and the French affiliate AFSOS.

EONS President-Elect Helena Ullgren shares: “Nursing was prominently featured throughout the program and among the participants. It was a packed schedule, and I took home several aspects to apply to my clinical work. One clear takeaway is the emerging challenges for cancer nurses and other clinicians regarding the toxicities of new treatments. This demands specialist knowledge, and I hope EONS can address this need!

One of the most important aspects of attending a conference is the opportunity to meet colleagues. To address mutual challenges and enhance our collaboration, we had a meeting with representatives from EONS, ONS (Oncology Nursing Society), CANO (Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology), MASCC, and ISNCC (International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care). 

We agreed that in matters of advocacy, guidelines, precision medicine, and research, we should join forces. For example, to tackle the emerging global workforce crisis, we are much stronger together. We will also collaborate to draft a unified perspective on the 16 statements recently published by MASCC on supportive care in cancer, where nurses play a central role."

ENHANCE YOUR ONCOLOGY EXPERTISE 

WITH #TRANSiTION!

EONS is excited to be part of the consortium for the #TRANSiTION EU Co-funded project, designed to boost your digital skills in oncology. They are actively recruiting both trainers and trainees for this initiative:

• Trainers: Participate in the Training of Trainers module from July 2024 to January 2025.
• Trainees: Join the training programme from September 2024 to January 2025 to enhance your skills in delivering high-quality oncology care.

The programme offers free and accredited training for all participants!

GET INVOLVED IN INTERACT-EUROPE 100

EONS is proud to be a partner in the INTERACT-EUROPE 100 project! This initiative is currently recruiting cancer centers from across Europe. By applying, your center could become one of the 100 selected participants, providing your cancer care professionals with diverse multidisciplinary training opportunities over the next three years. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your team’s skills and improve patient care. Apply now!

Application Deadline: September 30, 2024

EONS members are now invited to vote for two board positions: Early Career Board Member and Communication Working Group Board Member. The candidates are:

• Early Career Board Member: Hazal Ozdemir Koyu (Turkey), Dimitrios Protogiros (Greece)
• Communication Working Group Board Member: Remziye Semerci (Turkey), Stavroula Chante (United Kingdom), Caitriona Duggan (Ireland)

Please review the candidate profiles on our webpage before voting. Voting is open until Monday, August 19, at 12:00 noon CET. Please ensure your Society's 2024 membership fee is paid to be eligible. For voting link issues, contact eons.secretariat@cancernurse.eu.

Subcutaneous (under the skin) injectable medicines are increasingly common in cancer care. Not surprisingly, the subcutaneous route is one of the topics at the upcoming ESMO congress in September. It is also a topic in many cancer centres across Europe.  

Hear from Alba, Oncology Research Nurse in Spain, and Sara (EONS Education working group member, Oncology Nurse Specialist in Portugal and Lecturer at the Nursing School of Coimbra, Portugal.

"I've seen great changes since I started working as an oncology nurse ten years ago. Lots of treatments have been introduced and evolved, and nowadays more are given subcutaneously and more are shorter, which allows patients and families to spend less time at the hospital. And for the nurses, it gives you extra quality time with the patient because you are there and can chat with the patient while you are administering it.” - Alba, Oncology Research Nurse, Barcelona 

“The subcutaneous route has evolved significantly since nurses administered their first subcutaneous cancer treatments in the early 2000s. As nurses, it’s our job to educate people with cancer and provide information about each treatment method's pros and cons and the options. There are great opportunities subcutaneous administration offers, for example giving treatments in a community centre or at a patient's home. But they need to be programmed, considering several variables, with safety conditions being a priority. To fulfil patient-centred care in cancer, we need to continue research and training.” -Sara, EONS Education working group member, Oncology Nurse Specialist in Portugal and Lecturer at the Nursing School of Coimbra, Portugal

Alba and Sara will be present at ESMO to share their experiences and continue the conversation, together with patient advocates on Sunday, September 15th at 8:30-10:00 in Segovia Auditorium, Hall 7. Those of you who will be in Barcelona, we look forward to seeing you there! Register here.

You can also watch our webinar, organised in collaboration with Roche, in English or Portuguese.

Or, feel free to share your perspective here: Survey in English

N.U.R.T.U.R.E PROJECT PODCAST SERIES: EPISODE 1 – DECISION BURNOUT

Join Dr. Charalambous Andreas as he interviews Dr. Legi Lasio Csaba on the challenges of decision burnout in cancer nursing in the inaugural episode of the N.U.R.T.U.R.E. Podcast Series. Presented by EONS, this episode provides valuable insights into managing psychological fatigue and maintaining resilience. Click the link to listen on EONS YouTube channel.

JOIN EHTG-N NURSING GROUP & CONFERENCE: 

THE EUROPEAN HEREDITARY NURSING GROUP

Join the European Hereditary Nursing Group for their upcoming conference! Laura Monje-Garcia and her nursing colleagues on the EHTG-N organising committee are collaborating with the European Hereditary Tumour Group (EHTG) to establish a dedicated nursing group within EHTG. Laura has also been elected as the first nurse representative on the EHTG board.

The EHTG annual conference will be held online on September 27-28, 2024, and will feature a dedicated nurse symposium. Abstracts for oral presentations are now being accepted. The EHTG-N organising committee is available to assist those submitting abstracts for the first time or those whose previous abstracts were not accepted. This is a fantastic opportunity to highlight innovative services developed by nurses in Europe for hereditary cancers.

NOT A MEMBER YET? JOIN EONS!

Interested in joining EONS? Whether as a new individual, society, or associate member, you can join at any time during the year by filling out the online application form found on the membership webpage. We warmly encourage you to join us and spread the word to your friends and colleagues about EONS. Membership offers numerous opportunities to enhance your education, advance your career, and stay updated on the latest research. Visit our homepage to connect with us on social media and stay informed about our upcoming events and initiatives.

Our hearts are with Kyiv and the entire team at Okhmatdyt Hospital, the largest children's cancer treatment centre in Ukraine, following the devastating missile attack on July 09. 

At EONS, we are resolute in our support for Ukraine's oncology community during these tragic times. EONS stands firmly against all forms of violence and is committed to ensuring that everyone affected by cancer receives equal, safe, and high-quality care. We encourage everyone to support European and International organisations in their efforts to aid the people of Ukraine. 

DNA DISCOVERY BY SCIENTISTS COULD 

ADVANCE PANCREATIC CANCER TREATMENT

Stock Photo

A groundbreaking study by researchers from the UK and US has revealed a crucial mechanism behind pancreatic cancer's aggressiveness, offering new hope for treatment. Published in Gastro Hep Advances, the research discovered that pancreatic cancer triggers DNA methylation to disable the HNF4A gene, which normally helps regulate organ function. This gene suppression facilitates rapid tumor growth and poor patient survival. Given the historically low survival rates and late-stage diagnoses of pancreatic cancer, understanding this mechanism could lead to more effective treatments.

INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN CANCER CARE – A SCOPING REVIEW

A recent scoping review by EONS President, Virpi Sulosaari, and colleagues, published in BMC Medical Education, highlights the current state of interprofessional education (IPE) in cancer care. This review examined literature from January 2012 to March 2023, identifying 28 relevant studies. It reveals significant variation in research focus and definitions of interprofessional competencies, with most studies concentrating on communication, teamwork, and IPE program development. Despite increasing publications, the review notes a lack of systematic theoretical frameworks and limited evaluation of IPE’s impact on patient care. The findings suggest a need for more structured IPE programs and validated assessment methods to enhance interprofessional collaboration in cancer care.

IS YOUR BODY READY FOR THE BEACH? 

DIETARY TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR MELANOMA RISK

As summer approaches and beach season arrives, it's important to focus not only on your beach-ready body but also on your health. This article from Cancer World highlights how dietary choices can play a crucial role in lowering your risk of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer.

Don’t miss the latest edition of The European Journal of Oncology Nursing (EJON), an international journal which publishes research of direct relevance to patient care, nurse education, management and policy development. It is packed full of interesting articles that will help you improve your cancer nursing knowledge and practice. As an EONS member you can read it FREE. 

EUROPEAN CANCER SUMMIT 2024

Join the European Cancer Summit 2024, taking place on November 20-21, either in Brussels or online! This year's theme is “United Against Cancer: Forging New Frontiers.”

Special Offer for ECO Member Societies:

• Up to 10 free registrations for Presidents, Board Members, and staff if confirmed by September 15, 2024.
• 50% discount for early registrations.

For more details and to register, click here.

LUNG AND BREAST CANCER HIGHLIGHTS 

LIVE WEBINARS

Join SPCC for two live sessions on OncoCorner! On September 24, 2024, they’ll feature highlights on lung cancer from the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer. Then, on September 30, 2024, tune in for key insights on breast cancer from the ESMO Congress 2024. Register here.

SIOP 2024 56TH CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PAEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY

Mark your calendars for the SIOP 2024 56th Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology, which will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, from October 17-20, 2024. Register for the congress here.

Save the date for the CANO/ACIO 2024 Annual Conference, happening October 24th to 27th, 2024, at the St. John's Convention Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Register for the conference through the following link: CANO/ACIO 2024 Annual Conference Registration Page.

The 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (18-ICML) will be held in Lugano, Switzerland, from June 17 to June 21, 2025. For the first time, the conference will feature a dedicated session on oncology nursing, designed specifically for specialised nurses, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists.We are also excited to announce that EONS Board Member Matt Fowler will be representing EONS at the conference.

You can register for the entire conference at a special fee, with options for virtual or in-person attendance. Alternatively, you may purchase a daily ticket for in-person attendance only on Friday, June 20, when the oncology nursing session will take place. For more details and updates, please visit www.icml.chand subscribe to the ICML newsletter.