The Utilization of the Nursing Process in Cancer-Related Issues

The Utilization of the Nursing Process in Cancer-Related Issues
Introduction
Though many kinds of cancer are preventable when detected early, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. According to the CDC (2019), for every 100,000 people, 439 were diagnosed with cancer, while 146 succumbed to it. The most common types of cancer include breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer. As a result, cancer receives significant scholarly attention as a means of prevention, treatment, and management. In this view, the purpose of the current paper is to discuss the utilization of the nursing process in cancer-related issues. Factors Contributing to Annual Incidences and Mortality
For cancer to be the second leading cause of death, it implies some factors sustain its prevalence. Such factors are responsible for annual incidences and mortality rates of various cancers among Americans. These include overweight & obesity, cigarette smoking & secondhand smoke exposure, excessive alcohol consumption, air pollution, and an unhealthy diet. According to Arnold et al. (2016), overweight and obesity are associated with 13 types of cancer. In a country where 42% are obese while 74% are overweight, cancer cases are bound to be high. This is further exacerbated by 12.5% (CDCi, 2022) of the population involved in cigarette smoking and a further 20.5% who engage in moderate to heavy consumption of alcohol. Cigarette smoking is associated with a high risk of lung cancer, while excessive alcohol consumption leads to liver cirrhosis. These two substances also increase obesity and overweight, providing an ideal environment for cancer complications. Further, the United States is among the most industrialized nations. An unfavorable outcome of this economic progress is increased air pollution. Manisalidis et al. (2020) showed that particles in polluted air are a significant public health issue, particularly regarding respiratory complications and some types of cancer, including lung cancer. Some researchers have also established that air pollution increases mortality risk for other cancers. Aside from air pollution, the United States also grapples with unhealthy diets. The country is a global leader in the consumption of processed food. According to Lawrence and Baker (2019), a 10% increase in the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the diet is associated with a 12% increase in cancer risks and an 11% increase in the likelihood of having breast cancer. Educative and Supportive Role of American Cancer Society (ACS)
The multifaceted nature of factors that sustain cancer in the United States indicates a complexity that cannot be grasped by the average citizen. But prevention of any kind of disease starts with the average citizen; therefore, they must receive the necessary information and support towards a common community goal of prevention. This is where organizations like the American Cancer Society (ACS) are essential; working to provide education and support for the population. The organization's mission is to free the world from cancer (ACS, 2022), and its efforts are significantly determined by its efforts in educating people about cancer. The organization can strengthen this role by focusing on empowering comm...