We describe a 50-year-old man who developed eight-and-a-half syndrome associated with an ipsilateral trigeminal nerve palsy because of a post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. This case widens the spectrum of eight-and-a-half syndrome to include a thirteen-and-a-half syndrome.

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BackgroundEarly phase oncology trials are primarily delivered by a national network of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, which are fundamental to taking the first step in developing new treatments for patients with cancer. In 2017, concerns about nursing recruitment and the factors affecting enrolment to research nurse posts were discussed at an Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres national nursing steering group meeting, which was attended by members from across the UK. The steering group felt there were misconceptions about the research nurse role and that many research nurses 'fell into' their posts rather than choosing this area as a career. These discussions instigated the development of a national pilot educational engagement project initiated by one of the members, and first author, (BH).The project involved co-designing educational sessions with nursing students on placement at Newcastle Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre. These sessions covered what clinical research is, what patients' journeys from standard care to clinical trials entail, where clinical research occurs in the NHS and the vital role of cancer research nurses. They Citation Hood B, Wilson V, Croudass A (2021) Enhancing nursing students' awareness of the role of cancer research nurses to improve future recruitment. Cancer Nursing Practice.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected cancer patients regardless of the stage of their diagnosis or treatment. Aims: To understand the experiences of cancer patients who were referred for a clinical trial at that time. Method: Cancer patients who attended their initial research outpatient appointment to discuss the possibility of taking part in a clinical trial were asked to complete the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment questionnaire, and take part in semi-structured interviews. Findings: Data indicated that, on average, patients had moderate levels of anxiety. Three major themes emerged from patients’ interviews, which gave an insight into what they experienced during this challenging period. Conclusion: This study gives an insight into the experiences of cancer patients who were referred for a clinical trial at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It illustrated the impact of social distancing and the effect of virus-related fear on cancer patients’ mental health.

BackgroundEarly phase clinical trials in cancer care are the cornerstone of future developments in treatment and are critical to enhancing the therapies available for patients. Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials provide evidence of safety and efficacy that is critical to drug licensing. Treatments in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials have not yet been approved for use in humans and represent the first phase of testing to ascertain if a new treatment is effective, safe, if there are side effects and optimal dose. Only when these criteria have been established can such treatments progress to phase 3 clinical trials and thereafter gain approval through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to be used in the NHS. However, in situations where no further treatment options are available to a patient with cancer, treatments being tested in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials can be made available and offer these patients a chance to continue treatment against the disease (Cancer research UK 2021).Across the UK, a network of 18 adult and 11 children's experimental cancer medicine centres (ECMCs) support phase 1 and 2 clinical trials research. Cancer research nurses have a vital role in the care of patients in early Citation