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FROM THE EDITOR
The Official Newspaper for the Hem/Onc Pharmacist
I
ncluded with this issue is the inaugural issue of the new peer-reviewed Journal of Hema tology Oncology Pharmacy. The journal complements the coverage of oncology-related news and events in The Oncology Pharmacist by providing original research, indepth review articles, and articles addressing clinical controversies and practice management issues, Patrick Medina, all of which will undergo rigorous PharmD, BCOP review by our distinguished editoEditor-in-Chief rial board members and reviewers. We hope you will find this new publication a valuable addition to the oncology pharmacy literature and consider submitting manuscripts to it. Ensuring medication safety is a major issue for pharmacists and other healthcare providers, and various technologies are being used in an effort to prevent medication errors. Bar coding is one approach that many institutions are now using or are considering, but implementing the technology can present challenges. The article by Dr Eric G. Poon describes how one hospital successfully used bar code technology to reduce
PUBLISHING STAFF Publisher Philip Pawelko phil@greenhillhc.com Editorial Director Karen Rosenberg karen@greenhillhc.com Associate Editor Dawn Lagrosa dawn@greenhillhc.com Director, Client Services John W. Hennessy john@greenhillhc.com Production Manager Stephanie Laudien Business Manager Blanche Marchitto blanche@greenhillhc.com Executive Administrator Andrea Boylston Circulation Department circulation@greenhillhc.com Editorial Contact: Telephone: 732-992-1891 Fax: 732-656-7938
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the rate of medication errors, and the commentary by Dr Mahro Ershadi provides a pharmacist’s perspective on practical considerations in integrating the technology in clinical practice. Another challenge to healthcare professionals is providing high-quality care to underserved populations, including minority groups and those in rural areas. Overcoming healthcare disparities is one of the central pillars of the National Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP). The profile in this issue showcases the innovative strategies employed by one of the new NCCCP sites, Geisinger Medical Center in northeast Pennsylvania, to extend state-of-the-art cancer care to its largely rural population. Also in this issue are reports from several recent national and international meetings and an update on the management of lymphoma by Dr Owen A. O’Connor, one of the leading experts in this field. Speaking at one of these meetings, Dr Otis A. Brawley of the American Cancer Society called for “rational use of healthcare.” The recent elections have intensified debate about healthcare reform, but given the huge costs of healthcare in general and cancer in particular, we can all agree that a logical approach to use of available resources is necessary. ●
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The Oncology Pharmacist®, ISSN 1944-9607 (print); ISSN 1944-9593 (online) is published 8 times a year by Green Hill Healthcare Communications, LLC, 241 Forsgate Drive, Suite 205C, Monroe Twp, NJ 08831. Telephone: 732.656.7935. Fax: 732.656.7938. Copyright ©2010 by Green Hill Healthcare Communications LLC. All rights reserved. The Oncology Pharmacist® logo is a registered trademark of Green Hill Healthcare Communications, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means now or hereafter known, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any informational storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the Publisher. Printed in the United States of America.
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EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE should be addressed to EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, The Oncology Pharmacist®, 241 Forsgate Drive, Suite 205C, Monroe Twp, NJ 08831. E-mail: editorial@greenhillhc.com. YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES: United States and possessions: individuals, $105.00; institutions, $135.00; single issues, $17.00. Orders will be billed at individual rate until proof of status is confirmed. Prices are subject to change without notice. Correspondence regarding permission to reprint all or part of any article published in this journal should be addressed to REPRINT PERMISSIONS DEPARTMENT, Green Hill Healthcare Communications, LLC, 241 Forsgate Drive, Suite 205C, Monroe Twp, NJ 08831. The ideas and opinions expressed in The Oncology Pharmacist® do not necessarily reflect those of the Editorial Board, the Editorial Director, or the Publisher. Publication of an advertisement or other product mention in The Oncology Pharmacist® should not be construed as an endorsement of the product or the manufacturer’s claims. Readers are encouraged to contact the manufacturer with questions about the features or limitations of the products mentioned. Neither the Editorial Board nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising out of or related to any use of the material contained in this periodical. The reader is advised to check the appropriate medical literature and the product information currently provided by the manufacturer of each drug to be administered to verify the dosage, the method and duration of administration, or contraindications. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or other healthcare professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine drug dosages and the best treatment for the patient. Every effort has been made to check generic and trade names, and to verify dosages. The ultimate responsibility, however, lies with the prescribing physician. Please convey any errors to the Editorial Director.
PERSONAL FINANCE
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December 2010 I VOL 3, NO 8
December 2010 • VOL 3, NO 8
CONTINUING EDUCATION
10 Implications of recent guideline updates on the management of chemotherapyinduced nausea and vomiting
HEMATOLOGIC CANCERS
26 Lymphoma expert outlines recent refinements in diagnosis and treatment 28 The golden years: are you financially prepared? CONFERENCE NEWS: ONCOLOGY CONGRESS
30 PARP inhibitors show promise in trials CONFERENCE NEWS: ESMO
32 For breakthrough cancer pain, fentanyl nasal spray easily titratable and effective Sex and the cancer patient: still a problem with targeted agents
34 Prolonging chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer improves survival DEPARTMENTS
18 24 30 34 37
Oncology Drug Codes Recent FDA Approval News Notes International News Meetings
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