HONS was created in 1985 with the aim of providing immediate and complete information to oncology nurses, providing quality nursing care to patients with malignancies, and improving collaboration with other health professionals. The minutes of the 30th meeting of the NSSN on 18/11/1985 record the decision to establish the Hellenic Nursing Oncology Sector, chaired by Ms. S. Pispirikou. The USSR, together with 7 other European companies, was the founding members of the first international team effort to unite the nursing forces under the chairmanship of R. Tiffany and the establishment of the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) in 1984. A small core of people among them G. Savvopoulou, E. Barbouni, E. Patirakis, M. Malgarinou, E. Vergemezi and P. Angelidou, in succession and methodically, tried under difficult conditions to represent the Hellenic Oncology Sector in Europe, starting the first educational efforts at a time when every activity in the field of oncology was primarily controlled by members of the medical community. At the end of 1995, the sector was reconstituted, and in May 1996, a five-member Board composed of E. Patirakis, G. Savvopoulou, E. Kiritsi, T. Pappas and V. Akarepi was elected for the first time. The rising Greek presence in European affairs over the next decade is an undeniable reality. Dr Patiraki E was elected as a member of the EONS Board of Directors between 1997-1999 and 1999-2001. Then, from 2001 to 2003, member of the Board of EONS, Dr. Molassiotis A., a Greek professor of oncology nursing, who lives and excels abroad but maintains direct and close cooperation with the Greek sector. During the two-year period 2009-2011 participated as a board member of EONS, Mr. Dimitrios Papageorgiou.

It is worth noting the continued, uninterrupted and often praiseworthy participation of the members of HONS in both the European Oncology Conferences (ECCO) and the EONS Spring Congresses. Significant were the European distinctions won by Greek colleagues, who stood by their side ensuring that they could do more. In September 1999, in Vienna (ECCO10), a fellow from the Red Cross Hospital, Mr. Efstathiou N., won the 1st Novice Research Award at the 3rd European Nursing Oncology Spring Conference.

In Venice in 2002 3 awards (EONS ROCHE AWARD), both were taken by Greek nurses. The research studies by the Department's research team consisting of Dr Patiraki E. and Mrs Carlos H., Papadopoulou D., Spyridou A., Kouloukouras H., Barre E. and the research study of Mr Efstathiou were awarded.

At this point it should be noted that the Division's participation in Venice at the 3rd EONS Spring Convention was evaluated as one of its most important successes, because it was simultaneously translated into Greek and the Greek team was the most populous of all other countries (105 nurses).

Also in the context of the ECCC 12 in Copenhagen in 2003 three of the four announced scholarships were awarded by Greek researchers. The research team consisting of: Dr. Patiraki.E, Taffas.C., Dr. Lemonidou H., Papathanassoglou E., Acarpe. B. as well as the research work of Mr Katsaragakis. S.

In April 2004, in Edinburgh, within the framework of the 4th Spring Conference (EONS), the award for best poster presentation, won a university group of nursing students on 'How children with cancer see their relationship with cancer' with their researchers Mr. Petsio, Z. Daskalopoulou, E. Papaioannou, T. Stavrianoudakis, S. Tsarouchas, E. Patirakis. In addition, Pantelis Perdikaris was awarded as new researcher for his research work on "Fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer".

The free mailing from 1997 until 2001 to all our members of the EONS Journal of Oncology Nursing sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Bristol, contributed to the development of HONS.  From 1997 to 2001 it was translated into 8 languages, one of which was also the Greek. In the five years 1998-2003, the voice of the oncology community had the opportunity to be heard equally through the interdisciplinary Journal of the Cancer Society, entitled "Oncological Information".

Partenships

HONS has been collaborating with the Hellenic Cancer Society and the Nursing Studies Society from 1999-2003 in the organization of two three-month seminars per year, Psychosocial Oncology and Nursing Oncology.

Also HONS participated in a nursing symposium at the 1st International Conference on “Prevention and Early Diagnosis for Better Cancer. International Strategy” organized by the Hellenic Cancer Society and the International Cancer Society in Athens (15-17 March 2001).  During the period 1996-1999 participated in the annual Clinical Oncology Postgraduate Seminars organized by the Pancreas Association of Biomedical Research in Heraklion, Crete. Collaboration with the Hellenic Society of Mammology and Voluntary Organization (SUSAN COMEN) in co-organizing two-day nursing seminars on breast cancer with international participation in 2000 and 2001. The official collaboration with the Society of Oncologists on conferences has been ongoing since 2001 in Athens. Since 2002 in Thessaloniki and 2003 in Athens the sector has been one of the 8 pioneering companies that co-organized the Greek ECCO Congress with great success. Our successful participation in the 1st Greek ECCO, was sealed with the award of an Excellent, Nursing Program on "Basic Principles and Nursing Standards of Chemotherapy for Patients with Cancer"