Benchmark: Approach to Care
Cancer is a broad word that refers to a collection of over 100 illnesses. Cancer is often referred to by the words malignancy and carcinoma interchangeably. According to the American Cancer Society, this disease impacts one in every three individuals in America, and it is the world’s second-leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It happens when the body’s aberrant cells proliferate and replicate uncontrolled, invading and damaging healthy tissues. From the skin to the core, cancer may start anywhere in the body. It is known as metastasis when cancer cells move from their original growing site and move through the blood or lymphatic system to create cancerous cells in other parts of the body. This paper seeks to explore cancer diagnosis and staging, complications, treatment side effects, and ways to reduce psychological and physical impacts. Furthermore, variables that influence cancer prevalence and death rates, education and support provided by the American Cancer Society, the nursing process, and the nurse’s base of knowledge will also be comprehensively explored.
Diagnosis and Staging
Diagnosis
Cancer manifests itself in a variety of ways, each one specific to its form and site. However, they all have one thing in common: detecting them at the earliest stage gives one the most significant opportunity for recovery (Mayo Clinic, 2018). The diagnostic procedure is approached in a variety of ways. A physical examination is the first and least intrusive. It is used to detect skin malignancies as well as any unusual lumps or features. This is also when the practitioner will inquire about symptoms that might suggest cancer, including breathing problems, chronic cough, loss of weight, and abnormalities in bladder or bowel patterns, and so forth (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Laboratory tests are done frequently and when there is a need to discover or rule out anomalies generated by cancer. Complete blood count (CBC), for instance, can assess the quality and quantity of white blood cells, and a urine test may detect blood in the urine, both of which are useful in detecting cancer. Next, bones and internal organs are examined with imaging tests like X-rays, ultrasonography, mammography, PET, MRI, and CT scans (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Some are utilized both as a regular preventive screening instrument and as a benign technique to acquire a fuller overview of the problem if an anomaly has been found. Finally, as a conclusive diagnostic technique, the physician may suggest a sample. This may be done in a variety of methods, including a needle biopsy or, the most intrusive, collecting the sample during surgery under anesthesia.
Staging
Following a definite diagnosis, cancer must be staged. This is determined by additional testing and is based on the amount of cancer identified in the body and its location. Staging is critical in establishing a care plan, prognosis and as a basis for determining treatment efficacy. Various staging methods are used to define various cancers, ranging from stage 0 to stage IV. Using microscopy, cancer staging is essential to indicate how quickly the cancer is projected to spread. For example, stage I cells look like healthy cells and increase slowly, but stage II cells do not look like healthy cells and increase faster than healthy ones. The third stage is the most severe, and it grows fast (NHS, 2018).
Complications of Cancer and Side Effects of Treatment
Complications
The type, location, and stage of particular cancer, as well as the person, determine the cancer complications that are encountered. For example, cancer in certain people might cause the immunity to target normal cells, a condition called paraneoplastic syndrome. Although this is uncommon, this condition might result in problems such as movement difficulties and convulsions (Mayo Clinic, 2018). The imbalance of electrolytes is yet another serious complication. This might happen if patients lose a lot of body fluid through diarrhea, vomiting, or perspiration. Whenever typical electrolytes like calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium are unbalanced, an individual’s risk of serious or even life-threatening consequences, including tumor lysis syndrome and hypercalcemia, increases (Cancer Connect & Weaver, 2018). Finally, the type and place of cancer, as well as therapy adverse effects, put persons with cancer at danger of undernutrition or malnutrition. This may affect the care plan’s efficacy, stability, recuperation, duration of hospital stay, and life quality. This may also contribute to weight loss due to muscle and fat damage (Department of Health & Human Services, 2014).
Side Effects and Comfort Measur
Order this paper