Cancer: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Caring
Approximately 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States (US) in 2016, equivalent to 192 new diagnoses every hour (Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2016). Although survival rates of cancer patients have been increasing, it is the second-leading cause of death in the US and leading cause of death in the world (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2015; Davis, 2016). Siegel et al. estimates 595,690 individuals will die from cancer in 2016 in the US.
This paper will examine the cancer diagnosis and staging process, complications, and side effects of treatments. Methods that can be utilized to assist in lessening the physiological and psychological effects of cancer and treatments will also be explored.
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More than 200 different types of have been identified, some of which are caused by inherited genetic defects while others are caused by environmental factors and lifestyle choices (Davis, 2016). In most cases early diagnosis of cancer leads to a better prognosis, making it essential for individuals to see their primary care providers for any unexplained and persistent symptoms (National Cancer Institute [NCI], 2015b). Although the signs and symptoms listed in table 1 are commonly associated with cancer, they are not only specific to …show more content…
A biopsy of the suspected cancer tissue is the only definitive diagnosis (Davis, 2016). There are several different ways a biopsy can be obtained such as through an endoscopy, needle biopsy, and surgical biopsy. Once the biopsy is obtained the tissue is examined under a microscope to determine whether the tumor is malignant or benign, type of cancer, and the tumor grade ("Module 6: Cancer," 2011). The tumor grade refers to how similar or different the cells resemble the normal tissue. If the tumor cells resemble the normal tissue it is referred to as well differentiated and tends to be slow growing and leads to good prognosis. However, if the tumor cells do not resemble or only slightly resemble the normal tissue it is referred to as poorly differentiated or undifferentiated. This is usually indicative of a fast growing and more aggressive cells that may ultimately lead to a poorer prognosis (“Module 6: Cancer,” 2011).
Table 1: Signs and Symptoms of Cancer
• Changes in Skin
• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Lump or thickening under skin
• Changes in breast or nipple shape, size, or texture
• Unusual or
The well being of the patient will be on the factors of the location of the tumor and where the sarcoma has spreads.
For our analysis, we used cohort data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER9) Program of the National Cancer Institute with data spanning from 1973-2012. The SEER database collects cancer surveillance data from population-based cancer registries in the United States with an approximate coverage of 30% of the entire US population. This data is de-identified and publicly available data and therefore did not require the approval of an institutional review board.
The CDC estimates that each year, more than eight million people are diagnosed, and consequently died from cancer, and this statistic was even higher in the 1950s. During this period, little was known of cancer’s effects on the
Cancer is a term used for diseases in which irregular cells divide without any control and have the capability to penetrate and infect normal body tissue through the blood and lymph system. Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the United States, exceeded barely by heart disease. According to the CDC Cancer Statistics and Data, there were more than 1.45 million people diagnosed with various kind of cancer between 1999 and 2007 and out of those more than 562,000 people died due to cancer (cdc.gov, 2012). Currently there are more than 200 different types of cancer that have been discovered. Cancer could be
Tis means that the cancer cells are only growing in the most superficial layer of tissue, without growing into deeper tissues. This is also known as in situ cancer or pre-cancer.
Every year over 1.6 million people are diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone and nearly 600,000 will die as a result of the disease1. Cancer, being defined as a group of over 100 prominent diseases formed from the growth of uncontrolled cells within the body, affects the social and economic lives of citizens2. With any diagnosis comes the financial burden of hospital bills and treatment costs. According to ASCO, approximately one-third of working-age cancer survivors go into debt while three percent of patients go bankrupt from cancer care costs3. This has been a consistent issue for more than six decades. National expenditures for cancer care in the United States totaled nearly $125 billion in 2010 and could reach $156 billion, almost a 39% increase, in 20201. During the four years following their
The nurse would have arranged for Mr. Thomas to receive training, so that he is able to transfer his wife safety from the bed to a chair. Educating Mr. Thomas to safely participate in his wife’s care will prevent caregiver and patient injuries and will help Mr. Thomas not rely on paid staff to
With cancer requiring colossal amounts of money from society to attempt to treat and cure the disease, it has become an important and relevant social issue in the United States. In 2016 alone, there will be an estimated 1,685,210 cancer diagnoses along with approximately 595,690 deaths in correlation with cancer in the United States (Cancer). Although with the United States having a population around 318 million, only approximately 5% of the population will be affected by cancer. With this only affecting a small portion of the total population, the topic of cancer can create a social issue and source for debate
Physicians can perform tests on DNA, RNA and cell proteins to determine if cancer is present within the body. After an individual discovers a sign that leads them to believe that cancerous cells are present within their body, an assessment of a biopsy is the most accurate and common procedure to determine the presence and type of cancer. A biopsy is a process in which a small sample of body tissue is removed and examined by an expert. These processes of detection lead to the declaration of cancer type and viable treatment plans.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. In 2011, more than 575,000 people died of cancer, and more than 1.5 million people had a diagnosis of cancer. Millions more have been affected by cancer directly post diagnosis or indirectly by taking care of a loved one that had been diagnosed with cancer. The actual cost of such a disease extends well beyond the number of lives lost and new diagnoses each year. Cancer survivors, as well as their family members, friends, and caregivers, may face physical, emotional, social, and spiritual challenges as a result of their cancer diagnosis and treatment. The financial costs of cancer also are overwhelming. According to the National Institutes of Health,
To attain an effect approach to care of cancer there need for a holistic approach on the benefits to the patient. In the year 2010, the number of new cases of cancer was estimated to at 1.52 million cases with close to 570,000 of these people expected to die. This marks a 68% improvement compared to the initial survival rate of five years upon diagnosis. Associated costs in cancer treatment are on the rise. In the United States, costs amount to $263.8 billion where direct medical cost accounts for $102.8 billion and the rest being the lost productivity in the U.S. workforce (Stjernswärd, 2011). Advances in treatment have downgraded the disease from a terminal disease to a chronic one. Drug utilization in the United States increased by 0.7% in the year 2009 and spending grew by 6.1% per person. This is an aspect attributable to new and expensive therapies offered to patients (Edge S.B. et al., 2010).
Cancer is one of the most leading cost of death in the United States. It develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the body, and can occur anywhere in the body. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be appromitely 1,700,000 new cancer cases and 600,000 deaths from cancer in 2016(American Cancer Society, 2016).
Being diagnosed with a cancer is a life changing moment for the patient, friends and the families. "there are 10.9 million new cases, 6.7 million deaths and 24.6 million people living with cancer" (Simonelli & Andersen, 2007). "Cancer is the second leading cause of death except heart disease which is number one in the whole world" (Simonelli & Andersen, 2007). Another name for cancer is malignancy. "Cancer refers to group of diseases that involve uncontrolled cell growth" (Corner & Bailey, 2009). There are more than 100 types of cancer, including breast, skin, lung, pancreatic, ovarian, prostate. "If a tumor cells penetrated local tissues, lymphatics, or blood vessels, is a sign of malignancy with potential to metastasize"(Copstead, & Banasik, 2014 p.114). It takes some years for cancer to manifest without the person knowing, symptoms vary depending on the type. “Cancer treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery" (WEBMD, 2014, p. 1). "About a third of all cancer deaths in the U.S are as a result of poor nutrition, overweight, lack of exercise” (Mertz, Oberleitner, Odle, & Carson-DeWitt, 2013). Some other causes are excessive fat intake, family history, occupational and environmental factors. Some signs and symptoms of cancer are: "fatigue, lump or thickened area felt under the skin, Sores that refused to heal, weight changes, hoarseness, persistent cough or breathing, persistent unexplained muscle or joint pain, bleeding,
INTRODUCTION: Cancers of multiple types remain one of the foremost challenging and significant obstacles faced by health providers with numbers rising to an epidemic in recent years. It is a leading cause of death worldwide. In 2007 it accounted for approximately 8 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths); and exceeding 70% of these