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Objectives:: To review the basic principles of patient education, models of innovative approaches to patient education, and needs for future development in patient education. Data sources:: Review articles, research studies, book chapters, personal communication, and standards pertaining to cancer pain education. Conclusions:: Patient education based on principles of effective teaching and learning is the cornerstone of effective pain management. Improved methods of patient teaching combined with novel approaches to delivering appropriate pain content can lead to enhanced patient compliance with the prescribed pain medication regimen. Implications for nursing practice:: Nurses are essential to improving the care of cancer patients in pain by providing patient education as a core component of professional nursing practice. The challenge remains to overcome significant barriers of limited time and resources to achieve these goals.

Objectives:: To review the symptoms of anorexia, cachexia, and dysphagia and to provide information on nutritional assessment and interventions. Data sources:: Published studies of anorexia, cachexia, and dysphagia, research abstracts, and review articles. Conclusions:: Anorexia, cachexia, and dysphagia can cause severe alterations in nutrition in cancer patients that may lead to irreversible nutritional compromise and death. Nursing research must focus on symptom management of these three symptoms, the needs of the patient and family, and the impact of dysphagia on quality of life. Implications for nursing practice:: Assessment, objective evaluation, pharmacological interventions, and nutritional counseling are important interventions for patients with anorexia and cachexia. Swallowing therapy, food intake adjustments, oral hygiene, and supportive care are important measures needed by the patient with dysphagia.

Objectives:: To share a story about being the wife of a cancer survivor who had a blood cell transplantation (BCT). Data sources:: Personal experience, and published articles related to the impact of cancer on the family. Conclusions:: Cancer affects not only the patient but the entire family unit. Yet, family members are a forgotten population. With advances in cancer treatment, survivorship has increased resulting in caregiving demands that can last for years. The lack of research related to the impact of BCT on family members must be addressed. Implications for nursing practice:: There are many ways that nurses can provide holistic care to family members who have a loved one going through a BCT. Physical, psychological, social, and spriritual aspects of care can make a tremendous impact on the lives of patients and family members.