Cancer and the Approach to Care using Nursing Process

Nursing Process
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Nursing Process
The concept of the nursing process has dominated nursing research and practice for several decades. The nursing process can be described as a systematic approach to care that used the basic principles of evidence-based practice, client-centered approach to treatment, critical thinking, nursing intuition, and goal-oriented tasks (Toney-Butler & Thayer, 2022). The focus of this paper will be to apply the ideas of the nursing process to cancer and the approach to care associated with this health condition. An overview of the diagnosis and staging of cancer will be provided alongside such topics as complications, side-effects of treatment, incidences and mortality rates, and ACS education and support. The nursing process will then be described as utilized in cancer care and the contribution of liberal arts and science to nursing knowledge explored.
Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer
The diagnosis of cancer is often accomplished through biopsy, a process where samples of cells are collected for laboratory testing. Other methods used in diagnosis include a physical exam, where doctors feel lumps in the body that may indicate the presence of cancer. Laboratory tests may include blood and urine tests, which seek to find any abnormalities caused by cancer imaging tests using modern technologies, including positron emission tomography (PET) scan, computerized tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). According to Eklund et al. (2021), MRI tests have increasingly become popular since they have massively improved cancer diagnostics. Additionally, MRI tests allow biopsies to be more targeted.
Cancer staging can be described as the process of determining the specific details regarding cancer, including tumor size and its spread. Through cancer staging, physicians can make critical decisions about cancer treatment. Staging is often conducted through various tests, including X-rays, bone scans, or imaging tests.
Complications of Cancer
Cancer causes several complications, most of which can be life-threatening. The first complication is bone pain caused by a condition called bone metastasis, which entails cancer spreading from other areas of the body. Pain is the most common symptom, while the complications may extend to morbidity and reduced quality of life. Cancers that are most likely to spread to the bones include kidney, lung, breast, and prostate. The second complication is hypercalcemia, whose malignancy is common in advanced cancer stages. The complication requires tight regulation of calcium levels since slight variations can cause morbidity. Key symptoms of hypercalcemia include coma, confusion, peptic ulcers, abdominal pain, fractures, pancreatitis, mood changes, and renal tubular acidosis. Lastly, a complication called venous thromboembolism (VTE) is caused by cancer and can be described as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which often starts in the distal lower limb. It can also move to the pulmonary system (Ingledew & Janz, 2019). VTE is considered the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Side Effects of Treatment
Cancer treatment in general causes several side effects, some of which can be severe and adverse. A study by Schirrmacher (2018) reveals that the World Health Organization (WHO) grades the side effects from 0 to 4 depending on their impacts on the immune system. For example, cytostatic drugs tend to have low tumor specificity but they also tend to have a high toxicity. Patients often show immediate signs of toxicity and chronic toxicity signs at later stages. Even chemotherapy treatments with higher specificity display similar side effects in terms of toxicity. In this case, it can be argued that the general treatments of cancers could involve causing other forms of harm to an individual’s body.
Besides the toxicity of the drugs, several other common side effects have been observed. The National Cancer Institute has listed these side effects, including anemia, loss of appetite, constipation, bruising and bleeding, diarrhea, delirium, and edema. Others include fatigue, fertility issues across all populations, hair loss (Alopecia), flu-like symptoms, lymphedema, infection and neutropenia, and memory or concentration problems. This list is not exhaustive, but it indicates that cancer treatment is yet to become efficient in achieving the desired results. However, novel approaches are emerging, most of which are helping reduce these side effects.
Lessening Physical and Psychological Effects
The physical effects of cancer treatment can be addressed through various forms of therapy and medication. The physical effects are often reflected in those side effects that affect the physical functioning of the body. Examples include fatigue, which can be lessened through exercise. Nausea and vomiting can be treated through anti-nausea drugs, which have proven very effective. Hair loss can be minimized by using a cooling cap, while mouth sores can be treated using ice chips. Overall, most of the physical effects have some medications attached to them. The psychological effects are more difficult to address considering that most do not have drugs or pills that can easily heal them. However, such approaches as yoga, acupuncture, and mindful-based stress reduction approaches have often yielded positive results. Several clinical guidelines have been provided for these practices.
Incidence and Mortality Rates of Various Cancers
Several factors tend to contribute to the yearly incidence and mortality rates of variou...