Cancer and Nursing Process Approach to Care
Write a paper (1,750-2,000 words) on cancer and approach to care based on the utilization of the nursing process. Include the following in your paper:
1. Describe the different types of diagnostic methods utilized to identify possibility of cancer. Explain the numeric and Tumor, Node, Metastasized (TNM) method of staging of cancer after the confirmed diagnosis.
2. Describe at least three complications of cancer, the side effects of treatment, and methods to lessen physical and psychological effects.
3. Discuss what factors contribute to the yearly incidence and mortality rates of various cancers in Americans.
4. Explain what the American Cancer Society (ACS) might provide for education and support. What ACS services could a nurse recommend for these patients and why?
5. Explain how the nursing process is utilized to provide safe and effective care for cancer patients across the life span. Your explanation should include how each of the five phases of the nursing process demonstrate the delivery of holistic and patient-focused care.
6. How does an interdisciplinary research approach (which includes liberal arts, science studies, mathematics, social and physical sciences), build on the foundational nursing knowledge related to cancer research?
You are required to cite a minimum of four sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:
RN-BSN
1.1: Incorporate liberal arts and science studies into nursing knowledge.
3.1 Utilize the nursing process to provide safe and effective care for patients across the life span.
Nursing Process Approach to Care
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Nursing Process Approach to Care
Diagnostic Methods and TNM Staging of Cancer
Cancer diagnosis is critical, and it is a challenging journey. There is a need to ensure that initial and vital steps in cancer diagnosis are followed to provide appropriate care for affected individuals. Diagnostic methods are needed to ascertain the presence of cancer in an individual, and these diagnostic methods are at the disposal of healthcare professionals. Among the methods that healthcare professionals can use include X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and MRI scans. There are more direct approaches that can also be used, which include conducting biopsies and engaging in genetic testing as well as blood tests.
Conducting imaging is important in determining cancer in a patient. The reason is it allows clinicians to assess and have a visualization of any potential abnormalities that are in the body. An example is X-rays, which provide two-dimensional images of the area examined or affected. It is important as it helps determine bone-related cancers and can show the presence of tumors in the body. More advanced imaging methods, such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are vital because of the three-dimensional images they provide (Di Maio et al., 2022). The three dimensional are for the internal body structures. These advanced technologies identify the tumors at the exact position and help determine the tumor size and location.
Another diagnostic method is positron emission tomography (PET) scans are vital because they help in providing an extra layer of detail because the outcome shows metabolic activity of the tissues in the body. For example, when these scans are used, they can detect the regions that have an increase in glucose metabolism, which helps characterize different cancer types (Di Maio et al., 2022). As these scans are used, there are scenarios when suspicions can arise, and in such cases, the next course of action of to use more direct diagnostic methods to investigate the cancer.
Cancer diagnostics can also involve biopsies, which are removing and examining small tissue samples extracted from the cancerous sites. The sample collected is analyzed in detail through a microscope to determine whether cancer cells are present (Di Maio et al., 2022). The detailed analysis can also help classify the type of cancer the individual is suffering from in general. Biopsies sample tissues can be obtained through different techniques, such as needle biopsies and surgical processes. These methods are done depending on the location of the tumor.
Blood tests and genetic testing are also done to determine cancer in individuals. These represent the non-invasive diagnostic tools. Applying these techniques, like blood tests, helps to identify diverse specific markers in the blood that indicate the presence of cancer. Blood tests can show elevated protein levels, which increases cancer determination. Genetic testing assesses an individual's genetic makeup to identify specific types of mutations and predispositions, showing how cancer is present in the body.
After the cancer diagnostics, healthcare teams still have a role, which is to ensure patient management. One approach is through staging,