EONS17, held in Barcelona from 14-16 September 2024, marked a successful celebration of EONS’ 40th anniversary. The event brought together cancer nurses from across Europe to reflect on past achievements and shape the future of cancer care.

The opening day featured inspiring keynotes, dynamic panels, and sessions on innovative patient care, symptom management, and improving the quality of life for older cancer patients. Day two focused on rehabilitation, eHealth innovations, and AI's role in oncology nursing, alongside a collaborative session on transitioning from paediatric to adult care.

The final day celebrated EONS' 40-year journey, exploring cancer care in crisis settings and closing with awards for outstanding research contributions. Industry-sponsored symposia added further depth, featuring expert-led discussions on key cancer care themes.

EONS17 was a resounding success, paving the way for continued progress in oncology nursing for the next 40 years!

EILEEN FURLONG RECEIVES

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Congratulations to Eileen Furlong, recipient of the EONS Lifetime Achievement Award at EONS17 in Barcelona. The award is given to acknowledge her high commitment to cancer patients and advancing cancer nursing and for her strong involvement in enhancing and endorsing multi-professionality and building bridges across all disciplines.

We’re excited to announce our newly elected board members! Dimitrios Protogiros from Greece, serving as the Early Career Working Group Chair, is a dedicated cancer nurse and Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Health, bringing invaluable experience in cancer nursing and palliative care. Stavroula Chante from the UK, our new Communication Working Group Chair, is the Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. With over a decade of NHS experience, she also lectures on haemato-oncology at Oxford Brookes University. We look forward to their contributions and will keep you updated on their upcoming initiatives!

This October, the ECN blog highlights the incredible experience of the Early Career Nurses (ECN) Working Group at the EONS17/ESMO24 conference. Members of the ECN WG actively participated in presentations, chaired sessions, and shared their research, all while engaging with the latest advancements in cancer care, including innovations like Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) and targeted therapies. The working group also reflected on the evolving role of cancer nurses in survivorship care and managing the complex side effects of cancer treatments.

EONS President, Virpi Sulosaari, recently participated in the 4th Congress of the Croatian Oncology Nursing Society. She expressed her gratitude for the invitation and highlighted the inspiring and passionate work of the Croatian cancer nurses she met during the event.

EONS is pleased to join Transforming Breast Cancer Together (TBCT), a coalition focused on improving breast cancer care and policy in Europe. EONS will contribute its expertise to TBCT, emphasising patient-centred care and addressing inequalities in breast cancer treatment.

ESO-EONS

CLINICAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME 2025

EONS, in partnership with the European School of Oncology (ESO), is pleased to announce the 2025 Clinical Fellowship Programme for cancer nurses across Europe. This fellowship provides a fantastic opportunity for nurses to develop their clinical skills and advance professionally. The programme aims to equip cancer nurses with hands-on experience at accredited oncology centres and to encourage cross-border professional exchange within and beyond the EU, fostering collaboration and best practices in cancer care. Applications are open to all cancer nurses currently practising in Europe, with the application form available here. The deadline to apply is 15th November 2024.

EONS President, Virpi Sulosaari, recently attended the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Surgical Oncology in Antwerp, held from 2–4 October 2024. During the event, the INTERACTEUROPE100 project was presented and discussed. This initiative focuses on the importance of improving interprofessional practice and collaboration to achieve sustainable, person-centred cancer care across Europe. EONS looks forward to continuing the collaboration to drive these crucial discussions forward and build strong partnerships for advancing cancer care.

TRANSiTION STAKEHOLDER FORUM

EONS President, Virpi Sulosaari and Early Career Working Group Chair, Dimitrios Protogiros, participated at the recent stakeholder Forum for the TRANSiTION Project. Virpi Sulosaari participated in a roundtable discussion, sharing perspectives from the DigiCanTrain initiative and emphasising the need for collaboration to build a sustainable EU agenda for digital skills in oncology. Dimitrios Protogiros presented survey data from 14 European countries, showing that digital technology is already a key part of healthcare systems. He also advocated for targeted digital education to meet the evolving needs of cancer professionals across Europe.

NEW EPISODES OF THE N.U.R.T.U.R.E. PODCAST SERIES ARE AVAILABLE!

Have you listened to the latest episodes of the N.U.R.T.U.R.E. Podcast Series by EONS, designed to help oncology professionals achieve a healthier work-life balance and prioritise self-care? In Episode 2, "Work-Life Balance," Selma Islamcevic chats with Ivona Poljak, a Clinical Health Psychology specialist, about strategies for well-being and preventing burnout in cancer nursing. Episode 3, "Self-Care and Coping," features Dr. Grigorios Kotronoulas in conversation with Deborah Boyle, an oncology clinical nurse specialist, discussing essential self-care strategies for health professionals in oncology.

EONS SURVEY ON SUBCUTANEOUS ANTI-CANCER THERAPIES IS AVAILABLE IN

MULTIPLE LANGUAGES!

Don’t forget! Our survey on improving cancer care is available in French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, and Croatian!

We want to understand the role of subcutaneous anti-cancer therapies in daily practice across Europe. Your insights are essential for shaping the future of cancer treatment. The survey closes on 31st October,so make sure to share your perspective!

NOT A MEMBER YET? JOIN EONS!

Are you interested in joining EONS? Whether you’re looking to join as an individual, society, or associate member, the application process is open year-round. Simply complete the online application form available on our membership webpage. We encourage you to spread the word to your friends and colleagues about EONS. By becoming a member, you'll gain access to a wide range of opportunities to enhance your education, grow your career, and stay up-to-date with the latest research. Be sure to visit our homepage to follow us on social media and stay informed about our events and initiatives.

NEW CERVICAL CANCER TREATMENT REGIMEN REDUCES MORTALITY RISK BY 40%

Stock Photo

A new University College London (UCL) trial found that adding a brief chemotherapy course before chemoradiation cuts cervical cancer death risk by 40% and recurrence by 35%. Tested internationally, this approach significantly improved survival and marked the biggest breakthrough in 25 years, prompting calls for its widespread use.

TBCT PUBLISHES SEVEN INFOGRAPHICS ON BREAST CANCER INEQUALITIES IN THE

EUROPEAN UNION

Transforming Breast Cancer Together (TBCT) has released seven infographics highlighting breast cancer inequalities in the European Union. TBCT encourages everyone to take the time to learn more about this disease, which affects 1 in 11 women before the age of 74 across the EU.

WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO CLOSE THE CANCER MORTALITY GAP BETWEEN

EASTERN AND WESTERN EUROPE?

This Cancer World article highlights why cancer mortality rates remain higher in Eastern Europe compared to Western Europe. Despite decades of EU initiatives, including Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, Eastern European countries still face significant challenges due to limited healthcare funding, lower rates of early detection and fewer public cancer centres. Rural-urban divides further impact access to timely screening and treatment, making it difficult for Eastern Europeans to receive necessary care. Experts stress that to close this gap, Eastern European countries need to increase healthcare funding, prioritise cancer care, and foster open discussions to improve access and outcomes.

Don’t miss the latest edition of The European Journal of Oncology Nursing (EJON), an international journal which publishes research of direct relevance to patient care, nurse education, management and policy development. It is packed full of interesting articles that will help you improve your cancer nursing knowledge and practice. As an EONS member you can read it FREE.

EUROPEAN CANCER SUMMIT 2024

Join the European Cancer Summit 2024, taking place on November 20-21, either in Brussels or online! This year's theme is “United Against Cancer: Forging New Frontiers.”

For more details and to register, click here.

LUNG CANCER HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ESMO CONGRESS 2024

Join SPCC for a live webinar! On November 05, 2024, they’ll feature highlights on lung cancer from the ESMO Congress 2024. Register here.

ENTERO 2024

Digestive Cancers Europe is delighted to sponsor 3 GI oncology nurses to join us at ENTERO 2024, Nov. 14-15 in Porto, Portugal to attend a first-of-its-kind meeting addressing the alarming growing incidence of early-age onset digestive cancers. Learn more about the event here.

They are pleased to offer you complimentary hotel accommodation for one night, along with coverage of your flight or train expenses per the European Commission’s authorisation of unit costs for reimbursement of eligible travel costs.

We kindly recommend you review the Travel and Reimbursement Policy before booking.

Please respond ASAP to [email protected] expressing your interest in participating and your affiliation with EONS.

Save the date for the MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting, happening June 26th to 28th, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. Register for the conference through the following link: MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting 2025.

The 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (18-ICML) will take place in Lugano, Switzerland, from June 17 to June 21, 2025. For the first time, the conference will include a dedicated session focused on cancer nursing, specifically tailored for specialised nurses, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists. We are pleased to announce that EONS Board Member Matt Fowler will represent EONS at the event.

You can register for the full conference at a special rate, with options for both virtual and in-person attendance. If you prefer, you can also buy a daily ticket for Friday, June 20. This is the day of the cancer nursing session, which is organised in collaboration with the Swiss Oncology Nursing Society (OPS/SOS), and the Haematology Nurses & Healthcare Professionals Group, and the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) Nursing Group.

For more details and the latest updates, please visit www.icml.ch and subscribe to the ICML newsletter.