From the Editors: May 2015

In this month’s issue of The Oncology Pharmacist (TOP), we present our coverage of the news from the 11th annual Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) conference. TOP was there, and we highlight presentations about the role of pharmacists in hospice and palliative care, the disposal of oral cancer drugs, and opportunities in survivorship care.

In this issue’s reader poll, we ask about shift work and sleep deprivation, and the risk of cancer. Please visit our website, www.TheOncologyPharmacist.com, and let us know if this is a trend that you have observed. You can also send comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. “There is a very strong link between shift work and lack of sleep, and few hours of sleep can translate to a higher risk for obesity and disease,” according to Eva S. Schernhammer, MD, DrPh, who recently spoke at the American Association for Cancer Research International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research (see “Shift Work, Sleep Deprivation, and Cancer Risk,”).

We also report on the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of dinutuximab for the treatment of pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, and other FDA news. In this issue’s side effects management column, we discuss the hardships survivors of colorectal cancer continue to have 1 to 3 months after sphincter-preserving surgery or anastomosis (see “Colorectal Cancer Survivors Frequently Report Bowel Dysfunction”).

We encourage you to read through this issue and send us your feedback about the different sections of the journal. We want to hear from you!