Editorial

The disbelief of receiving a diagnosis of cancer, the myriad of tests and treatment visits, and the discomfort of treatment side-effects – the journey a cancer patient have to undertake to search for control and cure is at times bewildering, often long and almost always emotionally draining.

While the oncologist serves as the central figure in the communication of information and the orchestration of treatments, time constraints and patient load are ever increasing barriers to providing much needed practical and psychosocial support for the patients and their relatives.

Enter the nurse clinician – a highly trained and motivated nurse specialist with experience in cancer care, understanding of treatment modalities and in-depth knowledge of appropriate support services. In this issue, we focus on their roles as chemotherapy, breast care and lung care nurse clinicians, and how they work closely with other healthcare workers to provide counselling and psychosocial support, patient education, and post-treatment care and follow-up, serving as key pillars in the holistic care of cancer patients.