Over the past few decades, major improvements have been made in the field of cancer treatments, therapies and diagnostics. Cancer nursing is a result of these advances; it continues to play a vital role in offering palliative support to cancer patients and improve their ability to cope up with the disease. Consequentially, cancer nurses have become an integral part of the complex cancer treatment process.
Cancer is a disease characterized by an uncontrollable growth of cancerous cells in the body. These cells are referred to as malignant cells. Although the symptoms of cancer vary depending on the type/location of cancer, in most cases, the following symptoms might occur; fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, chills, sweating, etc.
In order to diagnose the presence of cancer, a doctor usually conducts a screening test known as biopsy. The process requires taking a sample of the affected tissue and examining it under a microscope. Biopsy can be carried out in three different ways; one of them is endoscopy, whereby the doctor inserts a thin tube inside the patient’s body to take photos and if necessary, remove the tissue. Another way to remove the tissue is known as needle biopsy through which the doctor inserts a tiny needle in the suspected cancer location to draw out a sample tissue. If needed, the doctor may remove either entire or part of the tumor by an operation known as surgical biopsy. Doctors may also conduct CT scans to determine the exact location and size of the cancerous tumor. (Silverstein, 2006)
After the diagnosis is done and the presence of cancer is established, the doctor would then want to determine the stage of cancer. This process is called staging and it is crucial for the following reasons; it helps identify the extent of the disease, the required treatment is ascertained based on the stage of the specific cancer and it also allows the doctors to learn about the person’s prognosis. Therefore, staging is an important part of making a sound diagnosis. There are namely four stages of cancer; In Situ, Local, Regional, and Distant. In the first stage, the cancerous tumor is confined to the organ and has not spread to the surrounding tissues. In the second stage, the cancerous tumor starts to grow and spread to the neighboring tissues. The tumor grows extensively and reaches out to the other organs in the regional stage and finally in the last stage, cancer spreads to the other organs and systems of the patient’s body. (Schottenfeld, 2006).Staging can be performed using different imaging studies such as MRI, ultrasound, X-rays and CT/CAT scans to help detect the cancerous areas in the body.
Cancer can be caused by a range of factors which may result in severe complications. The problems associated with this disease are acute and can have a very damaging effect on a person’s health and overall wellbeing. In some cases, the immune system might get disrupted and may react negatively to the presence of cancerous cells by attacking the healthy cells in the body. This is known as the Paraneolastic syndrome and may lead to seizures and difficulty in walking. A further problem is of metastasizing, whereby the cancerous cells multiply and advance to other parts of the body. One of the major problems faced by some cancer patients is of cancer recurrence, therefore, it is advisable that patients seek follow- up medical attention and take periodic tests to keep in check any possibilities of cancer recurrence.
However, with technological advancements in the health sector, a number of new and improved cancer treatments have been discovered. Cancer may be treated in a variety of ways depending on the type and stage of cancer. The most common of these treatments include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Other treatments include biological therapies and surgeries. It is extremely important for the cancer patient to play his part in the treatment process by means of offering input by asking questions and expressing concerns about the entire treatment process. It can help speed up the recovery process considerably. (Mukherjee, 2010)
As stated above, one of the most common treatments for cancer includes chemotherapy; this involves the use of anticancer drugs to disable the cancerous cells’ ability to grow and reproduce. This type of therapy can be used alone or it may be used together with other treatments such as radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses special types of energy waves to destroy cancerous cells. While these treatments are effective in curing several types of cancer, they may also trigger certain side effects during the treatment process.
Since the consequences of cancer are far reaching and long term; its treatments can have both physical and mental side effects for example, chronic fatigue, sexual difficulties, heart problems, psychological disorders, gastrointestinal and urinary issues, etc. (Ruddon, 2007). Even though cancer treatments are becoming widespread and an increasing number of patients are being cured around the world, some of these treatments can cause severe long-term diseases, such as heart diseases, osteoporosis or they may simply increase the likelihood of a second cancer. The impact of cancer is not limited to a person’s physical wellbeing and health; it may have wider implications such as emotional volatility and depression, as a result of which the patient may face social isolation and begin to feel mentally ill.
Even though the consequences related to all types of cancer are grave, approximately one-third of all cancer cases around the globe are preventable. Cancer can be controlled by means of prevention, which is the most cost effective cancer control strategy. The various ways of preventing cancer are as follows; avoiding tobacco use can significantly reduce the risk factor of getting a cancer. According to a report by the World Health Organization, nearly 1.6 million out of a total of 7.4 million cancer deaths were caused as a result of tobacco use. Almost 70% of lung cancer can be credited to smoking alone.
Another way to prevent cancer is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is advisable to improve one’s dietary habits by incorporating plenty of vegetables and fruits in daily meals. These food items possess high nutrition value hence; they offer a protective effect against the disease. On the other hand, excessive consumption of red meat and preserved food can increase the likelihood of getting cancer. A well balanced diet coupled with regular physical activity can reduce cancer risk substantially. Cancer may also be attributed to heavy drinking therefore, cutting down on alcohol use can significantly reduce the possibility of cancer. In addition to following a fit and healthy lifestyle, vaccinations can also be used to prevent infectious diseases which can later on result in cancer. (Corner, 2008)
Cancer is the most known and death defying disease in the world. Not only does it cause immense physical pain, but it destructs the quality of a person’s life in many ways. It has caused millions of deaths over the years but with constant progress in science and technology, one could only hope for a cure to be found, which would put an end to cancer forever. With the passage of time, cancer treatments are being constantly worked upon and several new and improved methods of treatment have been discovered. The therapies and drugs can only lessen the physical pain associated with the disease; the emotional damage caused by cancer can only be alleviated if the patient has a strong and caring support system which includes family, friends, peers, etc. These people must strive to bring change in these peoples’ lives, lend them a helping hand so that their ability to cope and recover from the disease flourishes.
References
Corner, J., & Bailey, C. (2008). Cancer nursing: care in context (2nd ed.). Oxford: Blackwell Pub..
Mukherjee, S. (2010). The emperor of all maladies: a biography of cancer. New York: Scribner.
Ruddon, R. W. (2007). Cancer biology (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Schottenfeld, D., & Fraumeni, J. F. (2006). Cancer epidemiology and prevention (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Silverstein, A., Silverstein, V. B., & Nunn, L. S. (2006). Cancer. Minneapolis, Minn.: Twenty-First Century Books.
