Cancer refers to a group of diseases
that involve uncontrolled cell growth (Corner & Bailey, 2008). The
unregulated cell division and growth leads to the formation of malignant tumors
that invade bordering body parts. Cancer may also spread to distant areas of
the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Determining the causes of
cancer is a complex process, however studies have shown that obesity, tobacco
use, environmental pollutants, and microwave radiations, increase the risk of
the health problems (Corner & Bailey, 2008). Early detection of cancer is
extremely important because it will allow for early treatment and stop
progression of the disease process. Research has shown that the risk of
acquiring cancer is especially high among the elderly population (Lee &
Wood, 2010). When we advance in age our fears may increase due to
competing causes of death, limited life expectancy, and higher risk of
toxicities such as cancer. Understanding the prognosis and the nature of the
progression of cancer is important when contemplating a variety of treatment
options accessible for the patient. This paper will consider the diagnosis and
staging of cancer, the complications of a disease, side effects of treatment,
and methods to lessen psychological and physical effects of cancer treatments.
Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer
Diagnosis of cancer refers to the processes by which a physician determines the presence of cancer through screening or observing symptoms (Lee & Wood, 2010). Screening and monitoring of symptoms does not require physicians to examine tissue samples, however medical tests are necessary when investigating and diagnosing suspected cancer in the patient. The medical tests commonly include ultrasound, endoscopy, blood draws such as cancer marker tests, biopsies of area in question, Computed Tomography (CT) scans, X-rays, pap- smears, mammograms, (there are two new forms of mammography that are making news: Computed Tomography Laser Mammography and Full Field Digital Mammography). (Lee & Wood, 2010). Effective diagnosis will confirm the presence of cancer, determine the progress of cancer, and look for the suitable approach of its treatment. Staging of cancer refers to the determination of the level at which cancer has progressed (Lee & Wood, 2010). The TNM system is based on the extent of the tumor (T), the extent of spread to the lymph nodes (N), and the presence of distant metastasis (M). A number is added to each letter to indicate the size or extent of the primary tumor and the extent of cancer spread. (National Cancer Institute At the National Institute of Health).
Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer
Diagnosis of cancer refers to the processes by which a physician determines the presence of cancer through screening or observing symptoms (Lee & Wood, 2010). Screening and monitoring of symptoms does not require physicians to examine tissue samples, however medical tests are necessary when investigating and diagnosing suspected cancer in the patient. The medical tests commonly include ultrasound, endoscopy, blood draws such as cancer marker tests, biopsies of area in question, Computed Tomography (CT) scans, X-rays, pap- smears, mammograms, (there are two new forms of mammography that are making news: Computed Tomography Laser Mammography and Full Field Digital Mammography). (Lee & Wood, 2010). Effective diagnosis will confirm the presence of cancer, determine the progress of cancer, and look for the suitable approach of its treatment. Staging of cancer refers to the determination of the level at which cancer has progressed (Lee & Wood, 2010). The TNM system is based on the extent of the tumor (T), the extent of spread to the lymph nodes (N), and the presence of distant metastasis (M). A number is added to each letter to indicate the size or extent of the primary tumor and the extent of cancer spread. (National Cancer Institute At the National Institute of Health).
|Stage 0
|Carcinoma in situ.
|
|Stage I, Stage II, and Stage|Higher numbers indicate more extensive disease: Larger tumor size and/or spread of the cancer beyond the |
|III |organ in which it first developed to nearby lymph nodes and/or organs adjacent to the location of the |
|
|Stage I, Stage II, and Stage|Higher numbers indicate more extensive disease: Larger tumor size and/or spread of the cancer beyond the |
|III |organ in which it first developed to nearby lymph nodes and/or organs adjacent to the location of the |
|
|primary tumor.
|
|Stage IV |The cancer has spread to another organ(s). |
This is a significant determinant of cancer treatment and medical prognosis. Physicians use a variety of techniques, including surgery, biopsy, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, and CT scans, in order to determine the progress of cancer for its effective treatment (Lee & Wood, 2010). Therefore, both invasive and non-invasive techniques allow for successful cancer staging. Cancer may lead to serious complications due to delayed treatment, especially when diagnosis and staging do not take place when cancer has not progressed extensively (Lee & Wood, 2010).
Complications of Cancer
Cancer and treatment of cancer can lead to a number of complications, which include severe pain, weight loss, decreased appetite, anxiety, depression, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue and breathing difficulty, just to mention a few (Jones, 1998). Studies have shown that cancer and many medical interventions of cancer affect bowels and lead to constipation or diarrhea. Chemotherapy is a likely cause of diarrhea since it affects the intestinal linings. Constipation may take place because of pain and strong anticancer medications. This can also occur due to insufficient intake of fluids and fiber content in daily meals. Fatigue is another complication that cancer patients experience before and during treatment (Jones, 1998). It is among the most distressing complications
|Stage IV |The cancer has spread to another organ(s). |
This is a significant determinant of cancer treatment and medical prognosis. Physicians use a variety of techniques, including surgery, biopsy, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, and CT scans, in order to determine the progress of cancer for its effective treatment (Lee & Wood, 2010). Therefore, both invasive and non-invasive techniques allow for successful cancer staging. Cancer may lead to serious complications due to delayed treatment, especially when diagnosis and staging do not take place when cancer has not progressed extensively (Lee & Wood, 2010).
Complications of Cancer
Cancer and treatment of cancer can lead to a number of complications, which include severe pain, weight loss, decreased appetite, anxiety, depression, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue and breathing difficulty, just to mention a few (Jones, 1998). Studies have shown that cancer and many medical interventions of cancer affect bowels and lead to constipation or diarrhea. Chemotherapy is a likely cause of diarrhea since it affects the intestinal linings. Constipation may take place because of pain and strong anticancer medications. This can also occur due to insufficient intake of fluids and fiber content in daily meals. Fatigue is another complication that cancer patients experience before and during treatment (Jones, 1998). It is among the most distressing complications
of cancer and outcome from treatment
interventions. The cause of fatigue during medical management includes
radiation therapy or chemotherapy treatment. Breathing difficulty is a frequent
complication that many lung cancer patients experience due to the cancer itself
or cancer related treatments (Lee & Wood, 2010). The growth of cancerous
cells in lungs may block air passages, which will lead to suffocation. This is
a serious complication and physicians have to look for a timely intervention
strategy.
Side Effects of Treatments
Treatment of cancer causes a number of side effects including constipation, vomiting, delirium, insomnia, mouth sores, and fatigue as the frequent side effects (Lee & Wood, 2010). Delirium is a condition that takes place when the brain malfunctions. Many patients who experience delirium can experience other problems such as perception disorder, attention deficit, emotion, decreased muscle control, walking and memory problems. Another common symptom of cancer treatment is vomiting, which takes place due to various factors, such as taste, smell, anxiety, irritation or poor blood flow (Jones, 1998). Some cancer patients develop mouth sores in the course of receiving chemotherapy treatment which further complicates issues with weight loss. Constipation is another symptom of cancer treatment among many patients. They experience a slowed movement of body wastes or stool through the large and small intestines. When the stool takes a long time to travel in the colon, it loses large quantities of water and becomes dry and hard. Sleeping disorders is another widespread
Side Effects of Treatments
Treatment of cancer causes a number of side effects including constipation, vomiting, delirium, insomnia, mouth sores, and fatigue as the frequent side effects (Lee & Wood, 2010). Delirium is a condition that takes place when the brain malfunctions. Many patients who experience delirium can experience other problems such as perception disorder, attention deficit, emotion, decreased muscle control, walking and memory problems. Another common symptom of cancer treatment is vomiting, which takes place due to various factors, such as taste, smell, anxiety, irritation or poor blood flow (Jones, 1998). Some cancer patients develop mouth sores in the course of receiving chemotherapy treatment which further complicates issues with weight loss. Constipation is another symptom of cancer treatment among many patients. They experience a slowed movement of body wastes or stool through the large and small intestines. When the stool takes a long time to travel in the colon, it loses large quantities of water and becomes dry and hard. Sleeping disorders is another widespread
side effect of cancer treatment.
Cancer patients experience the inability to sleep, as well as stay asleep for
many hours (Lee & Wood, 2010). They sleep excessively as compared to
healthy people.
Methods to Lessen Psychological and Physical Effects of Cancer Treatments
Studies have shown that relaxation techniques have a significant effect on easing the side effects during cancer treatment (Payne, 2010). Physicians can teach patients the adoption of relaxation techniques while they go through various hard-to-tolerate treatments of cancer. This will help patients to cope with pain, nausea, vomiting and other disturbing symptoms. The relaxation techniques may include progressive mental imagery, muscle relaxation, and hypnosis (Payne, 2010). Reduction techniques reduce psychological symptoms like anxiety, tension, and depression, unfortunately few treatment programs for cancer use relaxation techniques regularly. Research has shown that cancer patients ought to learn various relaxation techniques prior to receiving cancer treatments (Payne, 2010). This leads to reduced anxiety more effectively than when cancer patients learn about relaxation techniques while going through aggressive cancer treatments. Relaxation techniques help cancer patients to attain physical control over their body and this will reduce anxiety, as well as responsiveness to unpleasant stimulations (Payne, 2010). Therefore, relaxation techniques reduce both psychological and physical effects of cancer treatment. Physicians may also administer drugs that reduce the pain during painful cancer treatments, including chemotherapy.
Conclusion
Cancer
Methods to Lessen Psychological and Physical Effects of Cancer Treatments
Studies have shown that relaxation techniques have a significant effect on easing the side effects during cancer treatment (Payne, 2010). Physicians can teach patients the adoption of relaxation techniques while they go through various hard-to-tolerate treatments of cancer. This will help patients to cope with pain, nausea, vomiting and other disturbing symptoms. The relaxation techniques may include progressive mental imagery, muscle relaxation, and hypnosis (Payne, 2010). Reduction techniques reduce psychological symptoms like anxiety, tension, and depression, unfortunately few treatment programs for cancer use relaxation techniques regularly. Research has shown that cancer patients ought to learn various relaxation techniques prior to receiving cancer treatments (Payne, 2010). This leads to reduced anxiety more effectively than when cancer patients learn about relaxation techniques while going through aggressive cancer treatments. Relaxation techniques help cancer patients to attain physical control over their body and this will reduce anxiety, as well as responsiveness to unpleasant stimulations (Payne, 2010). Therefore, relaxation techniques reduce both psychological and physical effects of cancer treatment. Physicians may also administer drugs that reduce the pain during painful cancer treatments, including chemotherapy.
Conclusion
Cancer
and its treatment are unpleasant
experiences among cancer patients because of the symptoms they undergo. However
cancer therapy has progressed considerably in recent years, and remarkable
advancements has been made in reducing the morbidity and mortality from many
types of cancer. An emerging concept is that cancer is possible to be a
controllable disease, comparable to osteoporosis or even hypertension, and
demand early detection, intermittent observation, and coordinated therapeutic
medical care. Therefore, it is necessary for physicians to look for methods
that will reduce physical and psychological problems that cancer patients
experience during treatment. Studies have shown that relaxation techniques are
successful in reducing physical and psychological problems, such as pain and
anxiety respectively (Payne, 2010).
References
Corner, J., & Bailey, C. (2008). Cancer nursing care in context (2nd Ed.). Oxford: Blackwell Pub.
Jones, E. G. (1998). Cancer, its causes, symptoms and treatment: giving the results of over forty years' experience in the medical treatment of this disease (Reprint ed.). New Delhi: Jain.
Lee, C. T., & Wood, D. P. (2010). Bladder cancer diagnosis, therapeutics, and management. New York, NY: Humana Press.
National Cancer Institute At the National Institute of Health.
Retrieved September2012.www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/staging
Payne, R. A. (2010). Payne's handbook of relaxation techniques a practical guide for the health care professional (4th ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.
References
Corner, J., & Bailey, C. (2008). Cancer nursing care in context (2nd Ed.). Oxford: Blackwell Pub.
Jones, E. G. (1998). Cancer, its causes, symptoms and treatment: giving the results of over forty years' experience in the medical treatment of this disease (Reprint ed.). New Delhi: Jain.
Lee, C. T., & Wood, D. P. (2010). Bladder cancer diagnosis, therapeutics, and management. New York, NY: Humana Press.
National Cancer Institute At the National Institute of Health.
Retrieved September2012.www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/staging
Payne, R. A. (2010). Payne's handbook of relaxation techniques a practical guide for the health care professional (4th ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.
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