An Overview of Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, Complications, and Interventions
Grand Canyon University
Ola Glezen
NRS-410V Pathophysiology and Nursing Management of Clients’ Health
Professor J. Jones
September 18, 2016
An Overview of Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, Complications, and Interventions In just 2016, about 595,690 people in the United States will die because of cancer.
(American Cancer Society [ACS], 2016, p. 1). Even though the number of people who die because of cancer is declining, much more research and education is needed for treatment and prevention. This paper will provide an overview of the general pathophysiology of cancer, including cancer diagnosis and staging. Three common clinical manifestations of cancer will also be discussed: pain, gastrointestinal changes, and unintended weight loss. Cancer treatments and their side effects, including pain, gastrointestinal and hematological changes, disfigurement, and depression are also discussed. Implications for nursing practice such as education, pain management techniques, patient education, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions will be addressed. Cancer today is not the automatic death sentence that it used to be, but it is an illness that continues to require the nursing profession’s holistic focus for compassionate and effective patient care.
Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer Cancer is not one specific disease, but a term that describes about 200
Cancer is a word that no one wants to hear or think about, however there are many people
Nursing as a profession is committed to the care of patients and families throughout health and illness and across all setting of care. Nurses assess and plan care to deal with the multidimensional range of needs for those faced with cancer. Nurses have been integrally concerned in efforts focused on cancer prevention, and they also are essential in the emerging area of clinical heredity for prevention and early
The movie “Wit” is a great educational tool for healthcare professionals in terms of dealing with terminally ill patients. It teaches that nurses and medical professionals should always remember that their patients are not a case nor illness nor experiment but rather human beings with souls and pains. Palliative care is one of the most disputed issues of worldwide importance. While bureaucrats in different countries are making laws on the use of palliative drugs, patients with excruciating pains learn how to “take deep breaths and be strong” (Nichols & Brokaw, 2001). That is what nurse Susie Monahan from “Wit” advises her dying patient Vivian Bearing suffering from unbearable pains due to stage IV ovarian cancer after eight painful rounds
There are many different type of cancers, there are also many different types of treatments. One of the most known types of treatments would be chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be used for a wide range of different types of cancers and diseases, and each of the different types of cancers or diseases require a different group, and sometimes order, of chemicals to properly treat the cancer or disease. These chemicals include: Alkylating agents, Antimetabolites, Anthracyclines, Topoisomerase inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors, corticosteroids, and more. Each of these drugs previously listed have its own cancer type(s) or disease(s) that it can assist in treating. Some of these cancers include: Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin disease, multiple
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.
Cancer is a deadly disease that has some very serious effects on a person both physically and mentally. Cancer can result in a simple surgery that may take only a couple days, or a life-long struggle that leaves someone so fatigued and tired that it makes them want to give up. It will put fear in anyone's eyes and will devastate even the strongest of people, but cancer can bring out the courageousness in a person to fight this disease and not give up. It can be a fatal disease but it can also bring out the strength in someone which is an amazing thing. Cancer has many serious effects on a person's body and their mental health and others, but can also inspire a person to dig deep and fight this disease
Pain is one of the most common and feared complications of cancer. It is exacerbated by stress, anxiety, fatigue, and malaise which accompany advanced cancer. Pain is generally absent in the early stages of cancer, but it is a significant factor as the illness progresses to advanced stages. Cancer-associated pain can arise from a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms including direct pressure, obstruction, and invasion of a sensitive structure, stretching of visceral surfaces, tissue destruction, infection, and inflammation (McCance 2010). Pain is generally accepted as whatever the patient says it is, wherever the patient says it is. Treatment of pain and its associated symptoms is a primary responsibility of the healthcare team. Treatment modalities for pain include the use of opioid analgesics, patient-controlled analgesia, psychological interventions, and preventing recurrence of pain. Reinforcing the reporting of pain by the patient is important, as is a respect for the social and cultural differences with respect to pain perception.
Cancer is the main cause of death in the world, estimating 8.2 million fatalities in 2012 alone
For years people have been looking for a cure for the devastating disease of cancer. Cancer is the third highest killer in the US with over 2,500,000 victims per year. Oncologists and scientists around the country are researching all forms of cancer in an effort to understand, treat, and ultimately defeat this disease. Already there have been numerous advances in the field, such as chemotherapy and gene therapy. One advance has been the use of a cell process known as apoptosis. By harnessing this normal cell process, scientists hope to have found an effective way to combat cancer.
About 10,730 children in the United States under the age of 15 were diagnosed with cancer in 2009 (American
Patient advocacy is an essential role of the nurse caring for a patient with NHL. Cancer patients may have a tremendous amount of physical, emotional, and educational needs to be met. Patients and families rely on nurses to provide them with information to guide them with successful coping and making informed decisions regarding their care. According to reviewed literature, oncology nurses were able to improve patient care by serving as an oncology nurse navigator (Vaartio-Rajalin & Leino-Kilpi, 2011). This task may involve referring patients and their families to support groups, playing the role of a care facilitator, working hard on improving treatment outcomes, and coordinating activities to enhance the patient experience and deliver quality care (Vaartio-Rajalin & Leino-Kilpi, 2011).
Approximately 48,250 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, the Oral Cancer Foundation revealed. Out of this number, 9,575 deaths will occur, killing at least one person every hour.
Many psychologists feel that psychological treatment is also a good way to teach patients how to endure their physical treatments. Many of these treatments present physical problems, but the treatments are almost more taxing on the mind. “Research clearly shows that unrelieved pain can slow recovery, create burdens for patients and their families and increase costs to the health care system.” (Rabasca, 1999). In overcoming anything whether it is a task for work, school or anything that can be physically and mentally draining like cancer, it is important to keep a strong mind and a positive outlook no matter how rough it is. Most patients of cancer are so far
I have been a registered nurse at UCLA for 18 months. One particular issue that has captured my attention is the utilization of palliative care in health care. Because nurses are generally at the bedside all the time, they have an important role to play in voicing the importance of its utilization and implementation in the patient’s care.
Due to the increased number of cancer survivors, all concerned nurses must possess the current knowledge as well as skills to enable them provide a competent level of cancer care (Volker et al,2011).There is a need for programs and services that are based on evidence-based practice philosophies. These programs and services must also be periodic and systematic and be able to meet the learners' needs, self-reported gaps in the existing knowledge as well as with their priorities too being taken into consideration. In this paper we present patients' need assessment plan for cancer care.