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 complication...