Nursing Process in Cancer Treatment and Management

The Nursing Process in Cancer Treatment and Management
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The Nursing Process in Cancer Treatment and Management
The nursing process is a systematic guide to providing client-centered care based on five sequential steps: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation (Toney-Butler & Thayer, 2022). It aims to help nurses deliver holistic and patient-focused approaches to care by determining individual patient needs. The need for this approach to care is influenced by the increasing reliance on scientific data and evidence to address an increasingly diverse population of patients with dynamic and unique needs that should be addressed independently. The approach is fundamental in managing and treating cancer conditions, which require consideration of a variety of patient-related information in the personalization of care. In this regard, the current paper outlines how the nursing process can be utilized in cancer patients to provide personalized care.
Cancer: Types, Prevalence, and Impact
Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably, leading to the destruction of body tissues. Types of cancer and the abnormal cells involved are named based on the tissue where the abnormal cells originated. Examples include breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. Types and incidences are influenced by genetics, diet, local environment, gender, race, and age. According to WHO, cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide (WHO, 2021). In 2020, cancer accounted for 10 million deaths, with prostate, rectum, colon, lung, and breast cancers being the most common. In the same year, the WCRF (2022) reported 18.1 million cancer incidences globally, with a provision that there could be thousands of unreported cases.
Diagnosis & Staging
Typically, a biopsy is the only way to a definite cancer diagnosis. Doctors observe cell samples under the microscope in the laboratory to differentiate between normal and abnormal cells. Normal cells are uniform, orderly, organized, and of similar sizes. Cancerous cells, on the other hand, have varying sizes, look disorderly, and show no apparent organization. According to the WCRF (2022), other diagnostic approaches include physical examination, imaging tests, and endoscopy exams. Diagnostic information is vital in identifying the type of cancer and its potential treatment or management approaches and in clinical staging.
The clinical-stage estimates the extent of cancer-based on diagnostic results. This aspect is key to deciding the best treatment options and establishing a patient's prognosis. In the latter, the survival rate of patients is influenced by the stage at the time of diagnosis. Typically, there are four stages: I, II, III, and IV, with I requiring the least aggressive treatment plans while IV requiring the most aggressive plans. Other forms of staging include pathological, post-therapy, and retreatment. While these forms of staging are vital in making decisions, clinical staging remains the most important in shaping these decisions.
Potential Complications of Cancer & Its Treatment
Pain is among the most apparent complications of cancer. The pain is either caused by the disease or the treatment methods utilized. While some cancers do not have pain, others cause excruciating pain that should be managed. The pain ranges from mild to severe, can be dull, achy, sharp, or burning, and in some cases, it is constant. Factors that influence the pain level include the type of cancer, its advancement, where it is located, and a patient's tolerance to pain. Aside from pain, another complication is weight loss. This is because cancerous cells steal food from normal cells, depriving them of nutrients. When normal cells are deprived of nutrients, coupled with the symptom of loss of appetite and constant physical pain, patients begin to lose weight which may lead to weight-related comorbidities. Lastly, another critical complication of cancer is the development of mental health issues because of the stigma and fear around the disease. Other complications manifest as side effects of treatment, such as hair loss, nausea, changes in eating habits, fatigue, constipation, and diarrhea. Some complications, like pain, can be managed through pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches. The latter include relaxation therapies like massage, meditation, and hypnotherapy.
Factors Contributing to Annual Cancer Incidences and Mortality in America
A cancer risk factor is anything that increases a person's likelihood of developing the disease. However, not all risk factors cause cancer directly. Some people with several risk factors may never develop the disease, while others without apparent risk factors may end up with cancer. This means other contributing factors contribute to the annual cancer incidences and mortality. In America, these include a sedentary lifestyle, overweight & obesity, poor diet, and excessive alcohol use. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI, 2017), tobacco is the leading cause of cancer, contributing to 20% of all cancers and 30% of all cancer-related deaths. As of 2020, estimates indicate that 30.8 million (or nearly 10% of) Americans are smokers (ACS, 2020). Overweight and obese individuals, on the other hand, are at risk of some types of cancer, including endometrial, colorectal, renal, and prostate, among others. This statement is essential given that obesity is a public health crisis in the USA (Sanyaolu, Okorie, Qi, Locke, & Rehman, 2019), with over 41.9% (CDC, 2022) of American adults reported to be obese. In other words, lifestyle factors are the leading contributors to cancer incidences and related deaths.
Educational Role of the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide organization dedicated to the elimination of cancer. ACS's role, too, is to provide research, promote a healthy lifestyle as a preventive measure, push for life-saving policies, and, most importantly, educate Americans about cancer (ACS, 2022). For instance, the organization can provide education by breaking down and interpreting cancer prevention research...