Patients with cancer are at risk of substance use disorder (SUD), which is commonly misunderstood and inappropriately managed. Understanding the basis of addiction and applying harm reduction principles to patients living with SUD presents an opportunity to enhance patient care.

Hyperglycemia is a common complication of cancer and its treatments. Appropriate monitoring and management of hyperglycemia is critical to prevent glycemic emergencies and optimize response to chemotherapy.

Pulmonary function is important to maintaining homeostasis and dysfunction can result in life-threatening complications. There is a need to discuss the incidence, prevention, and management of pulmonary toxicities given that numerous cancer treatments have the potential to cause pulmonary dysfunction. Clinician education on this topic can help them provide optimal care for patients experiencing pulmonary toxicity.

The early involvement of palliative care can help address and treat these other aspects of cancer, improving the patient’s quality of life and, in some cases, outcomes. Too often, palliative care is instituted late in the disease trajectory, if at all, which can lead to unnecessary suffering on the part of patients and caregivers.

As quality measures are set by governing bodies to reflect reimbursement, institutions not only have to be fiscally responsible but at the same time responsible for improving quality of care. Multidisciplinary engagement and buy-in are essential in this quest.

Disparities in cancer care in historically marginalized communities have been well documented. Identification of patients at risk for health inequity and strategies to mitigate disparities can help address current practice gaps in historically marginalized communities.

Educating nurses in the identification of symptoms and the treatments available will increase the identification and early treatment of GVHD in patients.  Nurses are in a perfect position to include other team members to address the psychosocial and palliative/symptomatic care of patients with GVHD, both acute and chronic.

The management of adverse effects, including toxicity from treatment as well as the education of patients and the coverage of these treatments by insurance are imperative to good clinical care of patients receiving these therapies.

Education on the use of palliative care resources is important to help hematology oncology clinicians potentially lessen the bias that may surround including “outsiders” in the care of their patients, thus allowing these patients and their caregivers to experience the benefits of this resource earlier in their care.

Quality initiatives directed at standardized clinical pathways for symptom management, and development for urgent cancer care tactics are becoming a standard in cancer care to help reduce sepsis and the need for acute care.