AJN, American Journal of Nursing

New Drug Treats Female Reproductive Cancers

Mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx (Elahere) has been granted accelerated approval to treat adult patients with folate receptor α–positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have received one to three prior systemic treatment regimens.The drug's labeling includes a boxed warning for ocular toxicity. Other warnings include a risk of pneumonitis, peripheral neuropathy, and embryo–fetal toxicity.

Waiting for Jerry

A patient's mysterious (and infectious) hope gives her meaning and seems to bolster her strength.

HPV-Associated Cancer Trends Since Vaccine Initiation

Decreasing cervical cancer rates may be associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine use.It may be too early to evaluate the association between HPV vaccine use and trends in oropharyngeal cancer in men.

New Drug Treats Cervical Cancer

Tisotumab vedotin-tftv (Tivdak) has received accelerated approval to treat adults with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy.Ocular adverse effects occurred in 60% of patients in clinical trials. To minimize this risk, nurses should follow the guidelines for premedication and required eye care.

News Brief: To prevent ovarian cancer, women should consider prophylactic removal of fallopian tubes

News Brief: A quarter of U.S. women are not up to date on cervical cancer screening.

Improving Equitable Access to Cervical Cancer Screening and Management

ABSTRACTBackground:Each year, 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,000 die from it. Moreover, 8 million women 21 to 65 years of age haven't had a Pap test in five years. Hispanic women have the highest incidence of cervical cancer and are less likely to be screened or return for care. Migrant women can face additional barriers to cervical cancer screening, including federal prohibitions against their participation in public health insurance exchanges and nonemergency Medicaid.Purpose:Improving cervical cancer screening rates was identified as a priority in a federally qualified health center when only 40% of eligible women were properly screened in 2016. Forty-five percent of the population the clinic serves is uninsured and 60% are Hispanic. The aim of this quality improvement project was to have 75% of the women 21 to 65 years of age who sought care at this clinic during the 60-day project period receive Pap test eligibility screening, enrollment in a state and federal screening program, and case management.Methods:Four rapid plan–do–study–act cycles were used. Tests of change included team engagement, patient engagement, eligibility screening, and case log management. Data were analyzed using run charts to evaluate the impact of interventions on outcomes. The interventions consisted of team meetings, a patient engagement tool, an eligibility screening tool, and case log management.Results:Among the women who completed care at the clinic during the 60-day project period, 80% were uninsured and 86% were Hispanic. A total of 87% of women received effective care, which consisted of same-day Well Woman Health Care Program enrollment and a same-day Pap test or an appointment to return for a well-woman visit.Conclusion:A multicomponent approach led to underserved women receiving equitable access to cervical cancer screening and timely enrollment in a cervical cancer screening program.

Any Number of HPV Vaccine Doses Reduces Risk of Cervical Cancer

According to this study: Among girls and women 15 to 19 years of age, receipt of one, two, or three doses of the human papillomavirus vaccine is associated with a reduced incidence of preinvasive cervical lesions compared with no vaccination.

New Approved Use for Keytruda

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is now approved as a single agent to treat advanced endometrial carcinoma that is microsatellite instability–high or mismatch repair deficient in those whose disease has progressed following prior systemic therapy in any setting and who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.

New Drug for Mismatch Repair Deficient Endometrial Cancer and Solid Tumors

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli) for the treatment of adults with mismatch repair deficient recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer and solid tumors.

One dose of HPV vaccine is noninferior to two doses

ACCORDING TO THIS STUDY: