Cancer And Approach To Care Based Utilization Of The Nursing Process

Cancer and Approach to Care Based on the Utilization of the Nursing Process
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Cancer and Approach to Care Based on the Utilization of the Nursing Process
Nursing process puts theory into practice, and by using this method of systematic problem solving, nurses are able to define the health care needs of their patients and offer more personalized care. The purpose of this paper is to describe cancer and nursing approach to care centered on the use of the nursing process. In particular, the paper describes cancer diagnosis and staging, complications, side effects of therapy, and approaches to lessen psychological and physical effects of cancer. A discussion on the factors leading to the increased mortality rates in the United States and how the American Cancer Society (ACS) can provide education and support is provided. The paper also provides an explanation of how the nursing process can be used in providing effective and safe care for patients and how undergraduate education in science and liberal studies can contribute to nursing foundation.
Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer
Staging of cancer is used by doctors to reveal the extent of spread or growth of cancer. The staging is done after a positive diagnosis has been made. Cancer diagnosis is accomplished using various diagnostic tests and imaging procedures such as MRIs, PET scans, x-rays, and ultrasound (Garrido et al., 2018). Confirmation of a cancer diagnosis through a biopsy is a critical requirement for the next stage of treatment planning. For example, a biopsy can confirm whether an unusual spot present on an imaging result represents cancer spread or not (Garrido et al., 2018). After diagnosis, cancer is staged either by clinical staging or pathological staging. In clinical staging, the extent of cancer growth is determined based on what is observed from imaging tests, vital signs/physical exams, and biopsies of tumors (Koh & Kim, 2019). Further, pathological staging can be done during surgery that is meant to give a more precise picture of cancer growth by extracting tissue samples.
Using different staging systems such as the Tumor Classification of Malignant Tumors (TNM) system, cancer is then grouped into stages using Roman numerals. At stage 0, the cancer is at the very initial stage and is found only where it first appeared. Stage I is cancer that has primary tumors of small sizes but have not affected the lymph nodes. In stage II and stage III, the sizes of the primary tumors are large, more extensive, and the cancer cells may have proliferated to the lymph nodes in nearby tissues (ASCO, 2018). Stage IV is the advanced cancer stage where the cancer has metastasized to distant tissues and organs at the time of diagnosis.
Complications of Cancer
Patients with cancer may present with a variety of complications that emanate directly from the disease. The complications include cardiac muscle compression/cardiac tamponade due to the accumulation of fluid within the pericardium. Some cancers including lung cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer present the greatest risk of this complication (Guimaraes et al., 2014). Another complication is increased intracranial pressure due to increased volume of vital components such as cerebral blood and cerebral spinal fluid. The complication can result from the spread of solid tumors from breast or lung cancers. If untreated, the outcomes could be brain herniation or even death (Guimaraes et al., 2014). Also, cancers such as bone, prostate, and breast cancers can cause another complication in the form of spinal cord compression. Once the spinal cord is compressed, the resultant damages to neural tissue could cause permanent loss in neurologic functions including loss of bladder and bowel control.
Side Effects of Treatment
Cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Each of these or a combination of the treatments can cause unwanted treatment outcomes. For example, patients who have had surgeries in the abdomen or pelvis may lose their ability to bear children/infertility. This could cause emotional distress. Surgeries involving the removal of a limb or a vital part of the body could cause physical pain in the long term (example: phantom limb pain), physical limitations, and depression (ASCO, 2018). In radiotherapy, damage of a lymph vessel could result in the accumulation of lymph fluid causing parts of the body to swell; a condition called lymphedema. In chemotherapy, hair loss and weak immunity are common side effects due to the damage to mature cells of the hair follicles and leucocytes respectively (CDC, 2019). Other side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting, problems with memory, and blood clots that could go to the lungs and obstruct proper air exchange (CDC, 2019). The American Cancer Society also describes problems of tiredness, loss of appetite, constipation, and anemia.
Methods to Lessen Physical and Psychological Effects
There are several methods that are recommended for mitigating the physical and psychological effects of cancer treatment. For example, wearing a cooling cap during chemotherapy sessions can help in reducing the rate of hair loss. If it is a male patient who worries about hair loss, an alternative to the cooling cap could be shaving the head before the hair loss starts (CDC, 2019). Female patients may choose to wear wigs or scarf over the period of chemotherapy to maintain their physical appearance and self-image. The side effects of feeling nauseated or vomiting may interfere with a person’s activities and normal interactions with people. In order to manage these side effects, one can use medicines that are specifically prescribed for nausea control. Drinking ginger ale or water has also been shown to assist as well as relaxation techniques such as acupuncture or hypnosis (CDC, 2019). The psychological impacts of losing memory about common things or daily activities can be devastating for a cancer patient. Among the methods for coping with memory issues include getting enough sleep and planning daily activities on paper and creating phone reminders.
Factors that Contribute to the Yearly Incidence and Mortality Rates of Various Cancers in Americans
In 2019 alone, 1.7 million new cases of cancer are projected to be diagnosed among Americans. These estimates are lower than actual as they do not include noninvasive cancer, and cancers of the squamous and basal skin cells. The number of Americans who could succumb to cancer in 2019 is estimated at approximately 600,000 (American Cancer Society, 2019). With such significant morbidity and mortality rates that have extended over the years, researchers have delved into the factors that contribute to the incidence rates. Among the factors include old age as about 80 percent of cancers in the U.S. are found in people above the age of 55 years (American Cancer Society, 2019). The other factors include obesity or overweight (160 million Americans are obese/overweight) mostly due to poor dietary habits (Murray, Ng, & Mokdad, 2014).
Alcohol consumption and smoking have also been listed as important contributors to cancer prevalence (approx. 34 million Ameri...