Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are standard care in cancer treatment; however, both have numerous adverse side effects because they affect healthy as well as cancerous cells. The side effects, including decreased white blood cell count, nausea, hair loss, and fatigue, can be severe enough that patients may decide to forgo treatment. Targeted therapies are treatments that focus on specific m...

STATEMENT OF NEED/PROGRAM OVERVIEW Cancers that develop in and around the oral mucosa are collectively referred to as head and neck cancers (HNCs). Although the major risk factors (tobacco use and excessive alcohol use) and most prevalent population (persons older than 60 years) are well-known, a new patient demographic is emerging. A recently identified association between HNCs, particularly o...

Quality of life studies in patients with cutaneous psoriasis attest to its significant impact on day to day activities and personal social interactions. Up to 40% of patients with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis, usually within 5-10 years after onset of the cutaneous disease, heightening quality of life issues. These data have prompted an increased awareness and interest in more aggre...

Few neurological disorders have been more successful in introducing novel therapies than Parkinson disease (PD). However, despite enormous progress, many challenges remain. Although levodopa is still the most effective drug in the symptomatic treatment of PD, adverse effects, particularly motor fluctuations and dyskinesias, limit its usefulness. Furthermore, there is a growing concern about the...

The development of additional effective therapies for acute ischemic stroke remains a challenging but critical endeavor. Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) initiated within 3 hours of stroke onset remains the only approved and validated therapy for acute ischemic stroke, and regulatory approval has expanded recently. Many other therapies have been evaluated, and these t...

Infants and children are typically undertreated for pain. Many treatment options are available to prevent and diminish the pain experienced by children during venipuncture. Infusion nurses must employ pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment options to make the experience more positive for the child, the family, and the nurse. These treatment options are explored in this article.

Rosacea is a common chronic skin disorder that has significant impact on the self-esteem and quality of life of affected individuals. Currently understood as an inflammatory condition that occurs in the context of an altered innate immune response, the available topical and systemic therapies function as immunomodulators to restore cutaneous homeostasis. The goals of therapy include reduction o...