Coordinator's Message
Cancer Experience Is Like a Powerful Storm

Cynthia Ciaschi, RN, MS, NP
Rochester, NY
cynthia_ciaschi@urmc.rochester.edu


Through the Eye of a Hurricane. Sounds like a good title for a book on the cancer experience, doesn’t it?

Cancer, cells out of control, could be looked at as similar to the storm cell systems in the Atlantic during the past few months. Somehow, the meteorologists with the National Weather Service Advisory are akin to the oncologists of American Society of Clinical Oncology, studying, researching, looking for ways to determine and alter the direction of cancer’s ever-changing pathway. If that could be accomplished in a more timely fashion, lives could be saved and the ultimate destruction could be prevented. Escape routes are all we have for the time being. Lost in the maze on the information superhighway? We were told to follow the blue signs with the "H" to find the nearest hospital; perhaps we should follow the blue signs with the crab (the astrologic sign for cancer) on this highway. It works every time, but will it get you there safely?

Oh, the waiting! Talk to patients with cancer. They feel as though they are in the eye of the storm, waiting to hear whether the category will be downgraded or upgraded or maybe even change in direction. Am I a stage I, II, III, or IV? Stage V? No “safe rooms” here. Outer bands? Relatives, employers, and communities are very familiar with the ripple effect and storm surge caused by them. Inner bands are the dance between the patient and the healthcare provider or team. Their options of surgery, biotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or no therapy can feel like standing in a wind tunnel with banana peels under both feet.

Price gouging, you say? Now who would do something like that? I never cease to be amazed by the inequalities in healthcare plans, in particular Medicare, Medicaid, and, of course, Medigap. Is it no wonder that some may go without? If you can’t afford the plywood to reinforce your windows, not to worry, someone else can.

Whether you live in the north, south, east, or west, finally the storm passes and those who weathered it breathe a sigh of relief. As they say in the biz, “watchful waiting.” Now there’s a comforting expression.

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Member Spotlight
I’m Still an Oncology Nurse

Joanne Latta, RN, OCN^®
Charlotte, NC
evelyn.latta@mpi.com


“I’m still an oncology nurse,” is the response I give when asked if I miss nursing. In fact, I view my position as an oncology sales specialist through the same eyes I used to look into the eyes of my patients as I gave them chemotherapy. When I educate nurses, doctors, the public, and others about the products I represent for my company, I see the patients in my mind. When I volunteer my time for oncology advocacy groups and provide grants from the company I work for, I feel as though I am still holding the hands of patients trying to battle their disease. When I participate in making sure company-sponsored research efforts continue, I feel I am keeping my promise to the patients that I will keep fighting. I do not view my position as sales. I view myself as an oncology nurse working in a different role to accomplish the same goal I have always sought. That goal is to use my time, talents, and career as a means to help the many people who have cancer.

Oncology was not my first choice. In fact, I did not even consider it as an area in which I wanted to be in nursing. After graduating in 1990 from Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina, number one in my class, I had the privilege to choose any area in which I wanted to work. I chose the intensive care nursery. That first year was very difficult, and no amount of success in school could have prepared me for caring for such small and sick babies. My second year, I chose to transfer to the newborn nursery and work one of the newly developed weekender positions. I then had a little girl of my own and wanted to spend as much time with her as I could. After another year, I really missed being in church and wanted my daughter to be in church also. I decided to interview for a position at a specialty clinic for women to work for an endocrinologist who specialized in infertility. It just so happened that the doctor was called to surgery the day of my interview and, as the manager spoke with me, she quickly said that she believed that I was more suited to work with one of the gynecologic oncologists. My response was, “No way!”

That was 12 years ago. I left that office that day and committed the decision to work in oncology to the Lord, something I had not done till this point, but have always done since. It has been one of the most wonderful blessings of my life. Many people have believed automatically that my career must be sad and depressing, but I say that it is rewarding. It keeps me humble and focused on the right things in life.

The opportunity to work in the pharmaceutical industry began in 1995. Again, the Lord opened this door for me at a time when the cancer center I worked for was being closed because all of the doctors decided to go back into private practice. I was already very familiar with ALZA Corporation because I had been a nurse consultant for the company. I also knew the products they represented very well. A representative came to our offices one day, looking for a nurse wanting to work as a representative for the Charlotte, NC, area. I jumped at the chance and have loved it ever since.

After ALZA was purchased by Ortho Biotech, I took a position with AstraZeneca to learn more about hormonal therapies and Iressa^®, an epidermal growth factor inhibitor. Although I enjoyed the year I worked for AstraZeneca, I had a dream of working for a small company again and had been following several companies, waiting for their products to be approved. This dream came true a little more than a year ago when I joined the team at Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Many of my ALZA friends joined also. Millennium’s product is Velcade^®, a first-in-class proteasome inhibitor. It currently has an indication for multiple myeloma, but its mechanism of action may make it a potentially beneficial product in the treatment of many cancers. It is very exciting representing a product like Velcade and great to work in an environment like Millennium.

Becoming involved with ONS was a natural response to my new-found love for oncology nursing. I have been a member ever since and have served as my local chapter president. I currently serve as the program chair. Certification was my expression of commitment to the career. I am currently applying to participate in the Leadership Development Institute and hope to publish articles in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.

Oncology nursing is in my blood and my heart and has become my hope. I am blessed to have a career I enjoy so much!

Editor’s note. Congratulation to Joanne for being chosen for ONS’s Leadership Development Institute. She will participate in the program in 2005.

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Oncology Clinical Educator Wanted (San Francisco, CA)


At GlaxoSmithKline, our goal is simple: to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better, and live longer. By bringing our talents together, we aim to meet the healthcare needs of people worldwide.

• BSN required, MSN preferred
• Minimum five years' oncology nursing experience
• Oncology nurse education experience
• Oncology chemotherapy knowledge
• OCN^® or AOCN^® certification preferred
• Excellent presentation, coaching, and interpersonal skills required
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required
• Experience with GlaxoSmithKline Oncology products preferred
• Approximately 60% overnight travel, which varies by geographical region (this position includes the geographic areas of Northern California and Hawaii)

Editor's Message
Do You Have Ideas for an Upcoming Newsletter?

Sharon Summerfield, BSN, RN, OCN^®
Atlanta, GA
sbsummerfield@yahoo.com


This will be the last issue of our newsletter for 2004. With the recent 2004 presidential elections, let’s focus our next newsletter on the results of the election and how policy changes are affecting our jobs, patients who we indirectly or directly affect, healthcare reform, and drug coverage. The next newsletter articles are due by December 1, 2004, and should be forwarded to me at sbsummerfield@yahoo.com.

I encourage you to contribute topics or articles for our 2005 newsletters. Let me know about the things you would like to see in our newsletter. This is our newsletter, so we should make it exactly what we want it to be.

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SIG Newsletter Editors Needed

Sharon Summerfield, BSN, RN, OCN^®
Atlanta, GA
sbsummerfield@yahoo.com


My tenure as the editor of our SIG newsletter is coming to a close. I have really enjoyed this position and working with many of you. I owe a huge thank you to Martine Avello, RN, BSN, OCN^®, who was instrumental as our coeditor, and Cynthia Ciaschi, RN, MS, NP, for her guidance and support.

We are looking for an editor or two to oversee the newsletter from 2005–2006. ONS has a wonderful support system, and I will assist you with our first newsletter. I am available to discuss the role with you and may be reached at 678-520-6655.

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Membership Information


SIG Membership Benefits

• Network with colleagues in an identified subspecialty area around the country.
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• Log on to the ONS Web site (www.ons.org).
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• This will bring up a listing of your SIG’s posted announcements. Click on "My SIG’s Page" to view all postings in their entirety or to conclude the registration process and begin browsing.

Pharmaceutical/Industry Nursing Officers

Coordinator (2003-2005) Cynthia Ciaschi, RN, MS, ANP Strong Memorial Hospital James P. Wilmot Cancer Center 601 Elmwood Ave., Box 704 Rochester, NY 14642-0001 585-275-1573 (O) cynthia_ciaschi@urmc.rochester.edu Coordinator-Elect (2004-2005) Jennifer Matthews, RN, MS, APRN, BC, OCN® 326 State Route 41 Homer, NY 13077 607-749-4303 (H) 607-749-3380 (O) jennrsed@hotmail.com

Editor Sharon Summerfield, RN, BSN, OCN® Cell Therapeutics 1233 Defoor Ct. NW Atlanta, GA 30318-2973 770-886-2370 (H) 404-350-8411 (O) ssummerfield@ctiseattle.com ONS Publishing Division Staff Elisa Becze Copy Editor 412-859-6317 ebecze@ons.org

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To print a copy of this newsletter from your home or office computer, click here or on the printer icon located on the SIG Newsletter front page. Print copies of each online SIG newsletter also are available through the ONS National Office. To have a copy mailed to you or another SIG member, contact Membership/Leadership Administrative Assistant Carol DeMarco at cdemarco@ons.org or 866-257-4ONS, ext. 6230.

ONS Membership/Leadership Team Contact Information
Angie Stengel, Director of Membership/Leadership
astengel@ons.org
412-859-6244

Carol DeMarco, Membership/Leadership Administrative Assistant
cdemarco@ons.org
412-859-6230

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) does not assume responsibility for the opinions expressed and information provided by authors or by Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Acceptance of advertising or corporate support does not indicate or imply endorsement of the company or its products by ONS or the SIG. Web sites listed in the SIG newsletters are provided for information only. Hosts are responsible for their own content and availability.

Oncology Nursing Society
125 Enterprise Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1214
866-257-4ONS
412-859-6100
www.ons.org