This month we feature “Falls in older adults with cancer: an updated systematic review of prevalence, injurious falls, and impact on cancer treatment.” From the Abstract: This update of our 2016 systematic review answers the following questions: (1) How often do older adults with cancer fall? (2) What are the predictors for falls? (3) What are the rates and predictors of injurious falls? (4) What are the circumstances and outcomes of falls? (5) How do falls in older patients affect subsequent cancer treatment? and a new research question, (6) Which fall reduction interventions are efficacious in this population?

2020    MASCC Career Opportunities and Fellowship Listings: Post-Doctoral Fellowship Opportunity, Palliative Medicine Physician

2020    Over several newsletter editions, MASCC will feature one of the winners of the 2020 Annual Meeting Travel Scholarships.  MASCC’s annual travel scholarships are part of our organization’s commitment to increasing the attendance of oncology healthcare professionals from low-income countries at our annual meetings. MASCC provides travel scholarships for this purpose in cases where attendance would not be possible without financial assistance. For more information on applying and recent recipients, click here.

2020    Throughout the year, we will share articles from the MASCC journal Supportive Care in Cancer. The “Editor’s Pick” section, chosen by the journal’s Editor-In-Chief, Dr. Fred Ashbury, PhD, will cover a variety of topics to meet the many interests of our membership.

2020    Over several newsletter editions, MASCC will feature one of the winners of the 2020 Young Investigators Award (YIA).  Every year, MASCC presents the YIA to recognize outstanding new-to-the-field investigators’ research accomplishments. The award is open to all junior investigators who have submitted an abstract to an upcoming MASCC annual meeting. YIAs are awarded to the first authors of the five abstracts with the highest scores. These abstracts are chosen from the top 10 percent of all abstracts submitted to the annual meeting.  For more information on how to apply for the YIA and recent award recipients, click here. 

2020    The 10th annual TAO Cancer Toxicity Management (CTM) meeting will be held December 3-4, 2020.  The meeting, based in Paris, France, will be held virtually and focus on current events, with two sessions on “Cancer and COVID-19.” Sessions will address prehabilitation and rehabilitation. A significant place will be given to international experiences, with a  focus on pain, genetics, and the microbiome.  

2020    Several MASCC members participated in the virtual 2020 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Nursing Society (EONS).  The conference focused on promising new developments aimed at improving cancer patient care and featured a COVID-19 and cancer research track.  Two of the slide presentations by MASCC members are available here:

2020    On October 3 - 4, the Indian Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (IASCC) presented its 2nd Annual Meeting.  You can still view videos of speakers and meeting highlights (you will need to register for access to all materials – registration is FREE).  Abstract and video presentations are available.

2020    MASCC recently participated in the research and practice study: “Nursing and Allied Health Research Priorities in the Care of Patients With Thoracic Malignancies: An International Cross-Sectional Survey”. The study was carried out by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Nursing & Allied Health Professionals (N&AHP) committee.  The premise of IASLC’s survey was initiated to explore the lack of evidence of research priorities from nurses and allied health professionals working in the field of thoracic malignancies.  This research could provide strategic directions for funders, policy makers, and researchers.  The IASLC has recently published a full report of the survey and conclusions.  The conclusions state there is a clear focus (and need) for research in interventions to improve quality of life and symptom management, particularly for pain, dyspnea, and fatigue was also established, alongside healthcare system issues and screening research.   The full paper is available in open access.  To read, click here.

2020    The World Health Organization designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. In honor of this celebration, MASCC members are invited to join a virtual event, “The Global Power of Oncology Nursing (GPON)” on Tuesday November 17. The conference will showcase the positive impact nurses are making on the growing burden of cancer in low- and middle-income countries. To register, click here.

2020    University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute Seeks Candidates for Post-Doctoral Fellowships Beginning Summer 2021.  Now in its 17th year, the NCI-funded T32 Clinical and Translational Cancer Control Research Training Program at the University of Rochester and Wilmot Cancer Institute is seeking outstanding candidates for its upcoming group of post-doctoral fellows starting in summer, 2021. For a detailed overview of the program, check out their new video. The program seeks highly motivated individuals with doctorates (Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent) who are committed to developing a successful research career in cancer control as independent investigators.

2020    The Section of Oncology Palliative Medicine at Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) within Atrium Health currently seeks a board-certified Palliative Medicine Physician to join their team with 7 BC Physicians and 3 Advanced Practice Providers in The Center for Supportive Oncology in Charlotte, NC.

2020    Earlier this fall, the European Cancer Organisation launched the European Code of Cancer Practice (The Code), a patient-centered initiative which identifies 10 key patient rights that underpin the delivery of good clinical cancer practice. The Code was created to improve patient survival and quality of life. The rights signpost what all cancer patients should expect from their health system and addresses inequalities in access to optimal high-quality cancer treatment and care. The initiative also highlights the need for public information about cancer, survivorship support, integrated cancer research, and innovative access to optimal high-quality cancer treatment and care.

2020    The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) announced the winners of the annual Evidence-Based Dentistry (EBD) Faculty and Practice Awards. The awards are presented to educators and clinicians who have made significant contributions to implement and advance EBD. The winners were recognized at a virtual booth hosted by the ADA Science and Research Institute at the 2020 ADA FDC Virtual Connect Conference, held Oct 10-13, during a joint meeting of the ADA and Florida Dental Association.

2020    For the first time in Russia, the Russian Society of Supportive Care in Oncology (RASSC) and MASCC will hold the annual Best of MASCC International Conference on October 9 in Moscow (via online broadcast). 

2020    The annual 2020 Sloan Kettering Management of Treatment-Related Adverse Events Symposium will be held from Friday, October 23 - Saturday, October 24. The course will be a virtual event this year instead of being held at its past location, Rockefeller Research Laboratories, New York, NY.

2020    MASCC presents a collection of 2020 clinical practice recommendations for the management of immune-mediated adverse events from checkpoint inhibitors. These recommendations are focused on patients with the most severe toxicities and provide an important international resource and reference in helping improve the management of these presentations.

2020    Earlier this year, MASCC invited you to recruit and mentor one or more new MASCC members through a new initiative, the Buddy Membership Program. This program was designed to increase our membership and to also to help new members get involved in MASCC activities and take advantage of all our membership benefits.

2020    The second Annual Meeting of the Indian Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (IASCC), an affiliate of MASCC, will be held virtually on October 3 – 4.

2020    The Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) section of Psycho-Oncology, is searching for a full-time, outpatient Psychologist to join their team in Charlotte, NC.  This opportunity includes a combination of clinical, academic, and research responsibilities in an integrated psycho-oncology section within a thriving outpatient, world class oncology service line.  Schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 am -5 pm with no weekends, nights, or call. Candidates must hold a PhD or PsyD degree in Clinical Psychology. Post-doctoral fellowship in Psycho-Oncology is preferred.