Among the range of illnesses that can affect the health of the population, cancer is among the most challenging and multi-dimensional. Cancer is characterized as a group of diseases associated with the abnormal growth of cells with the capacity of invading and spreading to other parts of the human body. It is usually suspected based on the symptoms experienced by an individual, physical examination results, as well as the findings of screening tests.
When a healthcare provider initially suspects cancer, usually some type of imaging study, whether it’s an x-ray or computed tomography, is performed. However, it is imperative to note that the tests typically show the presence, location, and abnormal mass presence but cannot confirm cancer as being the cause. Therefore, a biopsy is needed as a diagnostic method of obtaining a tissue sample through a needle or surgery and looking for cancer cells upon microscopic examination.
After cancer is diagnosed, staging tests are necessary to help to determine how extensive the disease is when it comes to its size, the growth into the nearby structures, location, as well as the spreading to other body parts. The choice of a staging test that is carried out depends on the type of cancer; for instance, a CT scan is used to detect cancer in such parts of the body as the abdomen, lungs, or liver, MRI is used to identify it in the bones, brain, and the spinal cord.
Stage 0 cancer means that there is no disease, only the presence of abnormal cells that have the potential to become cancer. At stage I, cancer is small and only located in one area, also referred to as early-stage cancer. Stages II and III imply a larger-sized tumor that has grown into the nearby tissues or lymph nodes, while stage IV means that the disease has spread to other parts of the body. Staging cancer is an essential component of the treatment process because the options and chances of recovery are usually associated with how early the disease is detected and addressed.
Cancer can cause substantial health complications depending on its type and severity. Pain is the first possible complication of cancer that may be caused either by the disease itself or its treatment, although not all cancers are painful. Fatigue is another complication, and in people with cancer, it can be managed when an appropriate method is chosen. Fatigue is often associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy and is widely expected in patients, and is usually temporary.
Chemical changes in the body are the third possible complication of cancer because the disease can disrupt the healthy chemical balance and increase the risk for serious health complications. For instance, the signs of a chemical imbalance due to cancer, although not exclusive to the disease, include frequent urination, excessive thirst, constipation, and confusion. The fourth possible complication of cancer is concerned with the unusual immune system response to the disease. Referred to as a paraneoplastic syndrome, the reaction can lead to a wide range of signs and symptoms, such as difficulty walking or seizures.
When being treated, cancer can also lead to adverse complications and side effects. Side effects are health problems that take place when treatment affects healthy organs or tissues. For example, nausea and vomiting are the most common side effects that emerge during cancer treatments. Medicine, as well as holistic, is used to help control nausea and make patients feel better. Another side effect of treatment is problems with thinking and remembering. Often referred to as the chemo brain, it can be complicated for cancer patients to do their everyday jobs and tasks. The method of addressing the issue includes getting plenty of sleep, noting one’s daily tasks, and focusing on one activity at a time instead of trying to do several things (CDC, 2020).
Neutropenia is also a possible side effect of cancer treatment, characterized by a lowering the number of white blood cells, which are necessary to facilitate the body’s defensive response to an infection. It can occur after patients receive chemotherapy because the treatment kills both cancer cells and healthy white blood cells. Because of this, cancer patients are more likely to get a cold or other infection because the white blood cell count necessary to fight germs is lower than normal. General infection prevention strategies are implemented to manage neutropenia.
There are a number of important risk factors contributing to the yearly incidence and mortality rates of various cancers in Americans. The five major factors, as defined by the Institute of Medicine (US) and National Research Council, such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, obesity and overweight, a poor diet, and the use of alcohol (Shaikh et al., 2015).
There are also other facts related to individuals’ lifestyles, such as frequent sun exposure, sexual practices, or exposure to infected blood, which substantially contribute to cancer incidence. Besides the behavioral risk factors that contribute to cancer, there are also such that cannot be managed or prevented. For example, family history can be a contributor to cancer development, and it cannot be managed, with the same true for aging as individuals who are older have higher chances of developing cancer compared to younger ones.
When it comes to the support of cancer patients, the American Cancer Society (2020) offers twenty-four-seven guidance and advice necessary for individuals through their cancer experience. The cancer information services are intended to provide accurate and up-to-date information on cancer, both through the organization’s website and a phone helpline. In addition, the organization provides in-depth articles and publications on cancer topics that patients can find helpful. Among the available options, the twenty-four-seven phone helpline is recommended to patients because it is accessible to all individuals who own a telephone (American Cancer Society, 2020). Cancer information specialists are available to answer patients’ questions about specific cancers, treatment options, side effects, medicine, clinical trials, prevention mechanisms, and screenings.
The nursing process is highly important when it comes to addressing the challenge of cancer among patients. Nurses can offer support and guidance through holistic approaches that consider the physical, psychological, social, financial, and informational needs of their patients (Lavdaniti, 2017). Besides, nurses may have to address the spiritual and religious issues that cancer patients encounter, emotional challenges, practical concerns such as employment or training, as well as other everyday issues.
To support their patients, nurses will use a holistic approach to identifying their needs and expectations of care. This process is essential because it aligns with the philosophy of nursing, which implies the adoption of nursing care to integrate into all dimensions of a patient’s life. Such an approach is personalized and designed to meet the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients.
The phases of the nursing process imply a systematic approach to client-centered care in accordance with five sequential steps. These include assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation (Toney-Butler & Thayer, 2020). At the stage of assessment, a nurse will collect all relevant data, both objective and subjective, regarding the cancer patients to understand the extent of the issue. At the diagnosis stage, a nurse will make an informed judgment about the patient’s health problem, including considerations of Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs that can help prioritize and plan care based on patient-centered outcomes.
At the planning stage, a nurse will formulate the goals of the process that are relevant to the cancer patient. Specifically, the goals can include minimizing the adverse outcomes of chemotherapy such as nausea and vomiting, stabilizing the psychological state through therapy and various holistic methods, providing education through informational resources and support groups, and so on. During implementation, the plan of care formulated by the nurse is carried out.
The nursing interventions such as direct or indirect care and medication administration also align with the implementation step. Finally, at the step of evaluation, the nurse will reassess the implemented processes to determine whether the desired outcome of care has been met. Reassessments are important because they allow readjusting the plan of care based on the patient’s needs and progress within the implemented plan of care, which may be adapted depending on the way in which treatment is taking place.
Within the nursing process, the phases of care are expected to align with the holistic approach that would help patients manage the challenges of cancer. Holistic nursing takes into consideration the patient in their entirety – the mind, the spirit, and the body (Jasemi et al., 2017)). Within the holistic nursing approach, cancer treatment is concerned with covering a broad range of needs without involving any additional treatments and interventions. It is crucial that nurses offer comprehensive physio-social care through developing communication skills and facilitating an environment in which a patient can feel safe and supported. Therefore, in the holistic approach to nursing care, the relationships between nurses and their patients are imperative to facilitate honesty, trust, understanding, as well as reciprocal objectives to guide the process of recovery.
Conclusion
In summary, it should be mentioned that cancer is a complicated disease that requires immediate and systematic treatment on the part of the healthcare sphere. Considering the adverse effects of the disease on both the physical and psychological well-being of individuals, it is important that nurses apply a comprehensive and holistic approach to helping their patients overcome the challenges associated with cancer. These can be either physical side effects of chemotherapy, such as regular nausea and vomiting, or psychological issues such as anxiety or depressive states. While there is a range of resources available for supporting cancer patients, the importance of the holistic nursing process is high on the agenda. Nurses provide holistic care as a means to contribute to the treatment of cancer patients and help them attain a better quality of life at all stages of the disease. To succeed in the goal, it is important that nurses use as much information and as many resources as possible to offer the highest-quality patient-oriented care.
References
American Cancer Society. (2020). How we’re providing support. Web.
CDC. (2020). Side effects of cancer treatment. Web.
Jasemi, M., Valizadeh, L., Zamanzadeh, V., & Keogh, B. (2017). A concept analysis of holistic care by hybrid model. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 23(1), 71-80.
Lavdaniti, M. (2017). Holistic nursing approach to patients with cancer. Journal of Nursing Care, 6(1), 1000e136.
Shaikh, R. A., Siahpush, M., Singh, G. K., & Tibbits, M. (2015). Socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and dietary behavior as determinants of obesity and body mass index in the United States: Findings from the national health interview survey. International Journal of MCH and AIDS, 4(1), 22–34.
Toney-Butler, T., & Thayer, J. (2020). Nursing process. Web.