Highlights from Friday, November 17, 2017

Morning N.E.X.T. Day Sessions a Wealth of Knowledge for Attendees

The day kicked off with a breakfast session, sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, titled Caring for Your OPDIVO™ (nivolumab) Patients.

The morning’s N.E.X.T. Day sessions began with an engaging Takeda Oncology‒sponsored presentation by Amy Malcom, RN, BSN, OCN, RD, LCSW, Clinical Nurse Educator, about survivorship care. During her presentation, she highlighted the many dimensions of cancer treatment (psychosocial, physical, and financial) and the importance of addressing each of these areas as part of long-term survivorship goals. Amy outlined the needs of survivors living with cancer and reviewed the guidelines and requirements for implementing a survivorship care plan.

Joseph D. Tariman, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN, and Bridget M. Rossi, MSN, RN, OCN, took the stage next for their Boehringer Ingelheim‒sponsored presentation about shared decision-making in the realm of patients with EGFR+ metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using GILOTRIF®. During their presentation, they shared the pillars, steps, and participants in the shared decision-making process, as well as the prescribing guidelines, dose modifications, and adverse reactions of GILOTRIF.

A Merck-sponsored presentation about the biomarkers informing clinical decisions in NSCLC closed out the morning. During this presentation, Beth Eaby-Sandy, MSN, CRNP, OCN, focused on the use of KEYTRUDA® in treating these patients. She discussed the prescribing and dosing guidelines and adverse effects. She also talked about the PD-L1 testing process for individuals with NSCLC.

Afternoon N.E.X.T. Day Sessions Provide Further Learning Opportunities

The lunch N.E.X.T. session, sponsored by Takeda Oncology, brought Colleen Early, RN, BSN, OCN, to the stage to talk about NINLARO® (ixazomib), an oral treatment option for multiple myeloma. Colleen began her talk by providing an overview of multiple myeloma and the evolving treatment strategies for these patients. The remainder of her presentation focused on NINLARO, including clinical trial data, efficacy, safety, dosing, and administration guidelines. She emphasized that treating multiple myeloma is a marathon, not a sprint, and that the focus must be on finding treatment options that these patients can stay on for longer.

Deborah L. Selm-Orr, RN, MS, DNP, CRNP, AOCN, was up next with her Taiho-sponsored presentation about LONSURF® for the treatment of refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. This in-depth session focused on clinical trial data and used a patient case study to educate the audience about prescribing indications, dosing guidelines, and adverse events. Deborah also touched on ways to manage toxicity as well as strategies to help patients take the medication as prescribed.

Kathleen Regan and Erin Martin concluded the afternoon N.E.X.T. sessions with their Celgene-sponsored presentation about Celgene Patient Support®. They talked about how this program can be used to help certain patients who aren’t able to afford treatment-related expenses such as deductibles, copays, insurance premiums, and medications. They also shared how easy it is for patients to enroll in the program using the Celgene Patient Support website.

Evening Product Theaters and N.E.X.T. Day Session Offer Valuable Information

Carolyn Lavender, MSN, AOCNP, ARNP, led a Genentech-sponsored presentation about PERJETA^® for the treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer. During her session, Carolyn talked about what patients are appropriate for this treatment and why they would receive PERJETA. She also discussed the studies that led to PERJETA’s FDA approval and presented a case study to illustrate the process used to determine eligibility. Carolyn closed her presentation by talking about navigators as patient advocates and the various resources that exist for them and their patients.

Natalie was living a busy life as a yoga instructor, mom, and photographer when she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma at age 39. During this Amgen-sponsored Product Theater, Natalie walked attendees through her breast cancer journey, how she met her nurse practitioner, Linda Buck, MSN, ANP-C, and her eventual introduction to Neulasta^® (pegfilgrastim) Onpro^®, an on-body injector that automatically delivers Neulasta for 27 hours following placement. This provided Natalie with the flexibility to live her life without the interruption of additional doctor appointments following chemotherapy treatments. During the presentation, Linda talked about the benefits of this treatment approach for patients as well as Amgen’s programs to assist patients who are prescribed Amgen products but are underinsured or uninsured.

Novartis Oncology’s N.E.XT. Day dinner presentation focused on KISQALI^®, a treatment for postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer. Jan Hronek, MSN, ACNP, AOCNP, walked the audience through the clinical trial data, adverse reactions and dose modifications, monitoring guidelines, and drug interactions associated with KISQALI. She used case studies to illustrate prescribing scenarios. The presentation closed with a discussion about KISQALI Care, a comprehensive patient support program that provides women on this medication with a patient navigator who can help them with financial assistance information, scheduling of monitoring tests, medication information, and other related needs.

Bedtime Stories

One thing that all navigators have in common are stories, and the Bedtime Stories portion of the Annual Conference offers attendees the perfect environment in which to share them.

2017 Hero of Hope nominee and Atlantic City performer, Melissa Marshall, began the evening by sharing the story of her own diagnosis with colorectal cancer. She then sang her anthem, “No You Cant’cer,” which she wrote shortly after her diagnosis.

Lara MacGregor took the stage next to talk about her diagnosis with stage II breast cancer at 30 years of age while 7 months pregnant. She shared how a survivor had given her scarves to wear throughout her treatment that brought her hope and encouragement. Following treatment, and the birth of a healthy, red-haired boy whom she fondly refers to as her, “red devil,” Lara shared her scarves with another young mom with cancer and then another and another. This continued until one day, she decided to make it official with the founding Hope Scarves, which provides free scarves for patients. In 2015, a year after Lara was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, she expanded the organization’s mission to include a Metastatic Breast Cancer Research Fund, which to date has raised $200,000 for translational research.

AONN+ Director and Co-Founder, Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, ONN-CG, took the microphone next to share her own story of survivorship. She walked the audience through her early exposure to breast cancer with Ms. Bertha and her friend Lena, long-time family friends who inspired Lillie with their tenacious spirit and positive approach to breast cancer survivorship. At age 30, Lillie was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. She reflected on her initial thoughts and fears about her diagnosis, treatment, and sharing the news with her family. Lillie also talked about how her conversation with her then 12-year-old daughter helped bring humor into the discussion and their family. The hours leading up to and following her mastectomy were an emotional roller coaster for Lillie. She talked about her husband’s unfailing support, the moment she was first alone with her thoughts postsurgery, and, Mikey, the young nurse who sat by her on the bed and held her hand while she poured out her soul. Lillie also reflected on the first moment her husband saw her without her breast. A year later, she was diagnosed with cancer in her other breast and announced the news to friends by telling them that her prosthesis, “Betty Boob,” was getting a roommate. Other medical challenges have ensued since then, but Lillie has weathered them with her trademark humor and bravery, and the constant support of her family. She closed with this thought for her navigation colleagues: “We are all in the lives of cancer patients during their most vulnerable experience. They will remember you for the rest of their lives, whether you did right by them or left their bedside to take report. Remember that what you do is a privilege.”