This meeting is presented by an Oncology Clinical Nurse Educator (OCNE) from Incyte Corporation. Oncology nurses specialize in caring for people living with cancer. As employees of Incyte Corporation, OCNEs are trained speakers and educators. The OCNEs who present at these meetings are licensed healthcare professionals with over 5 years of experience working with patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and myelofibrosis (MF).
MSN, NPc, ANCC, AOCNP
Sandy Allen-Bard is a Leukemia Nurse Practitioner who recently joined Incyte as an Oncology Clinical Nurse Educator. Prior to this, Sandy worked at Weill Cornell Medical College/NYPH since 2001, where she assisted physicians in the management of patient care. She has spoken at ONS, JADPRO, Aplastic Anemia Foundation, Gilda’s Club, and Yale and Columbia Universities. Sandy fundraises for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training program, where she helps raise money for blood cancers and trains participants for endurance events.
Sandy continues to work passionately with many organizations and has been educating her colleagues on PV and MF. She is excited to be part of the patient education programs for Incyte.
“Sandy was informed and pleasant in her presentation of the [PV and MF] material.” — Meeting Attendee*
MN, MS, RN, OCN®
Dennis is an oncology nurse who loves to teach. He worked 10 years in the basic sciences before realizing that he was a “closet people-person” and wanted to have a vocation where he was making a daily positive impact on people. As an oncology nurse, Dennis took care of patients with solid and hematological cancers. Along the way, he learned many important life lessons about “how to live as a good person” and “the difference between curing and healing.”
Dennis works as an OCNE. He loves meeting and learning from people living with PV and MF, and he is often amazed at the stories they share. He feels honored to be able to share his knowledge and passion.
“Dennis Chang was wonderful. Generous with information and enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and caring.” — Meeting Attendee*
BSN, RN, OCN®
Becca found her calling as an oncology nurse. For 9 years she has worked in a variety of oncology settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and home-based hospice care. In the outpatient setting, Becca worked in a clinic that focused on the treatment and care of people living with PV and MF. Her work with people living with PV and MF has allowed her to see how important education is for them and their caregivers.
As an OCNE, Becca is passionate about educating her patients to empower them and positively impact their lives. Becca is humbled by the opportunity to interact with people living with PV and MF and share her knowledge of PV and MF with them.
“Becca did a wonderful job informing us and getting everyone involved. She answered all of our questions and was kind and helpful.” — Meeting Attendee*
MSN, NP
Paul is a nurse practitioner who has been working with hematology patients for more than 20 years. He has worked directly with inpatient and outpatient patients undergoing intensive therapy, and has cared for numerous people living with PV and MF, having followed many of them for years.
In his current role as an OCNE, Paul is passionate about promoting knowledge and understanding of PV and MF. This is accomplished by providing education to healthcare professionals and patient advocacy groups. Witnessing the accomplishments of medicine and being directly involved in patients’ lives are the factors that Paul finds most satisfying as a nurse practitioner.
“Paul was awesome & extremely knowledgeable about MPNs. Very informative.” — Meeting Attendee*
*All quotes are from attendees of Incyte-sponsored meetings.
Curious about what to expect? See Frequently Asked Questions.
The speaker will not provide medical advice. Your healthcare professional is the best source of information about your health.
Jakafi is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with polycythemia vera who have already taken a medicine called hydroxyurea and it did not work well enough or they could not tolerate it.
Jakafi is also used to treat adults with certain types of myelofibrosis.
Jakafi can cause serious side effects, including:
Low blood counts: Jakafi® (ruxolitinib) may cause low platelet, red blood cell, and white blood cell counts. If you develop bleeding, stop taking Jakafi and call your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will do a blood test to check your blood counts before you start Jakafi and regularly during your treatment. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of Jakafi or stop your treatment based on the results of your blood tests. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop or have worsening symptoms such as unusual bleeding, bruising, tiredness, shortness of breath, or a fever.
Infection: You may be at risk for developing a serious infection during treatment with Jakafi. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following symptoms of infection: chills, nausea, vomiting, aches, weakness, fever, painful skin rash or blisters.
Cancer: Some people have had certain types of non-melanoma skin cancers during treatment with Jakafi. Your healthcare provider will regularly check your skin during your treatment with Jakafi. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any new or changing skin lesions during treatment with Jakafi.
Increases in cholesterol: You may have changes in your blood cholesterol levels during treatment with Jakafi. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels about every 8 to 12 weeks after you start taking Jakafi, and as needed.
Increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke or death in people who have cardiovascular risk factors and who are current or past smokers while using another JAK inhibitor to treat rheumatoid arthritis: Get emergency help right away if you have any symptoms of a heart attack or stroke while taking Jakafi, including: discomfort in the center of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back, severe tightness, pain, pressure, or heaviness in your chest, throat, neck, or jaw, pain or discomfort in your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or vomiting, feeling lightheaded, weakness in one part or on one side of your body, slurred speech
Increased risk of blood clots: Blood clots in the veins of your legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE) have happened in people taking another JAK inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis and may be life-threatening. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any signs and symptoms of blood clots during treatment with Jakafi, including: swelling, pain, or tenderness in one or both legs, sudden, unexplained chest or upper back pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Possible increased risk of new (secondary) cancers: People who take another JAK inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of new (secondary) cancers, including lymphoma and other cancers. People who smoke or who smoked in the past have an added risk of new cancers.
The most common side effects of Jakafi include: for certain types of myelofibrosis (MF) and polycythemia vera (PV) — low platelet or red blood cell counts, bruising, dizziness, headache, and diarrhea; for acute GVHD — low platelet counts, low red or white blood cell counts, infections, and swelling; and for chronic GVHD — low red blood cell or platelet counts and infections including viral infections.
These are not all the possible side effects of Jakafi. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more information. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
Before taking Jakafi, tell your healthcare provider about: all the medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are taking and all your medical conditions, including if you have an infection, have or had low white or red blood cell counts, have or had tuberculosis (TB) or have been in close contact with someone who has TB, had shingles (herpes zoster), have or had hepatitis B, have or had liver or kidney problems, are on dialysis, have high cholesterol or triglycerides, had cancer, are a current or past smoker, had a blood clot, heart attack, other heart problems or stroke, or have any other medical condition. Take Jakafi exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Do not change your dose or stop taking Jakafi without first talking to your healthcare provider.
Women should not take Jakafi while pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do not breastfeed during treatment with Jakafi and for 2 weeks after the final dose.
Please see the Full Prescribing Information, which includes a more complete discussion of the risks associated with Jakafi.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
You may also report side effects to Incyte Medical Information at 1-855-463-3463.
