Study of Cancer

Study of Cancer Cancer is a group of pathological disorders that occur due to malignant cells. These cells exhibit abnormal cell division such that they divide and multiply uncontrollably. Normal cells change due to exposure to different factors making them cancerous. These cells deprive other cells of essential nutrients and oxygen supply; hence destroying them. Also, these cells may metastasize or spread to other tissues and organs through the blood or lymphatic system causing secondary tumors. This writeup discusses the approach to care used in cancer treatment. It also touches on its diagnosis and treatment, complications, side effects and the ways to manage its side effects.

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2 Approach to the Care of Cancer

Approach to the treatment and management of cancer is patient centered and may vary from one patient to another. Improving the quality of life, pain management, providing supportive car, curbing the spread of cancerous cells and promoting recoveryare the main aspects of cancer care. Approach to care involves integrative, palliative or multidisciplinary care.

Integrative care is a holistic approach to cancer treatment. It incorporates cancer treatment with other aspects such as patients’ lifestyle, spiritual beliefs, and cultural beliefs.

Palliative care or supportive care involves improving the quality of life of the patient even when recovery is not assured. Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and reducing pain and also involves providing spiritual, psychosocial and psychological guidance to the patient and their family. A multidisciplinary approach is a care that is provided by various healthcare professionals from different disciplines involved in the treatment of cancer. The care providers work collaboratively as a team to optimize care and improve the quality and safety of care provided.

Diagnosis of Cancer The diagnostic methods used in cancer determine the presence of cancerous tumors and cells. These methods may differ depending on the type and location of the cancer being targeted.

Diagnostic approaches include laboratory tests and imaging techniques. Laboratory techniques largely consist of a collection of samples and analyzing them microscopically, macroscopically and biochemically. The biochemical analysis determines the levels of tumor markers and comparing them to their normal ranges. Imaging or radiographic approaches are used in diagnosis, locating and staging of cancer by producing images of targeted body organs and parts

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(Tan, 2014). Imaging techniques are more advantageous over lab techniques as they can be used to show the exact location and size of tumors.

Staging of Cancer Staging shows the size and extent of cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body or not. Staging uses the types of body tissues affected by cancer to determine the severity of the condition. The two methods used to stage cancer are the numbering method and the TNM method. Numbering divides cancer into five different stages which are 0, I, II, III and IV. The tumor node metastasis (TNM) system stages cancer depending on the extent of its spread to other tissues, lymph nodes, and secondary organs. Through the stage of cancer, the kind of treatment to be used, response to treatment and the survival rate of a patient can be determined.

Numerical staging of cancer is based on the complexity and spread of cancer. Stages 0 and I refer to cancers that have affected only a particular point. Cancers that have spread to nearby lymph nodes are classified under stage II. Stage III cancer has affected the nearby lymph nodes and tissues while stage IV are those that have metastasized. Thus, stage IV cancers affect secondary body organs and distant lymph nodes.

The TNM classification system is almost similar to the numbering system. Cancers are classified based on whether they are present (T), have affected the lymph nodes (N) or metastasized (M). They are further classified down on these groups using numerical values based on the extent of spread or damage to each category (Cserni, Chmielik, Cserni, & Tot, 2018). For example, in the N group, NO are cancers that have not affected any lymph node, NI are cancers that have affected the nearest lymph node while N2 and N3 cancers have affected other distant lymph nodes Complications of Cancer

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The complications caused by cancer and cancer treatment vary among individuals.

Individuals respond differently to their treatment. Hence, some may experience more severe complications compared to others. Persons with weakened immunity, advanced stages of cancer, very young or very old age and those receiving more intense chemotherapy are likely to have more severe complications than their counterparts (Chambers & Mansi, 2018). These complications may be mild or complicated and can involve single or multiple body systems.

Common complications associated with the respiratory include shortness of breath while the gastrointestinal tract system complications can manifest through indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting and bloating. Every body system is affected differently and has different symptoms.

Metastasis of tumors is one of the most common complications in cancer. It often shows that the condition is unresponsive to treatment or is getting worse. Metastasized cancers spread from the originally affected tissues to other normal tissues or organs in the body. This makes it harder to treat and manage, thereby increasing the risk of mortality.

Another common complication of cancer is the weakening of a person’s immunity.

Cancerous cells can induce autoimmunity as a way of evading destruction by cells of the immune system. This may cause the immune system to attack and destroy normal healthy cells.

This weakens the immune system making the patient susceptible to opportunistic diseases. The immune system can also be destroyed by the effects of chemotherapy (Chambers & Mansi, 2018).

Side Effects of Cancer Treatment Cancer is associated with a lot of treatment side effects. Treatment affects patients differently depending on the intensity of treat, type, and location of the tumor, the kind of

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treatment and the time of exposure to therapy among other factors. The severity of the effects can also be determined by patient factors such as age and immunity. In most cases, the rapidly multiplying cells of the body such cells of the bone marrow and blood forming organs are the most affected. This is because the cells multiply rapidly similar to cancer cells being targeted.

Managing and lessening the side effects of treatment is one of the major problematic issues in cancer treatment. The side effects could be mild or severe depending on the mentioned factors. Some of the common side effects of include hair loss, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, pain, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, constipation, recurrence, edema, and anemia Methods to Lessen Physical and Psychological Effects Physical and psychological effects associated with the treatment or a cancer diagnosis can be unbearable. Most patients cannot cope with the condition as well as the financial, physical and psychological burden that comes with being diagnosed with cancer. This eventually affects their quality of life as well as their outcomes of treatment. Lessening these effects is, therefore, necessary to help them cope as well improve their outcomes. This is often achieved through supportive care.

Supportive care entails counselling, spiritual guidance, palliative, and hospice care. Both palliative and hospice care helps patients and their families to deal with their diagnosis by using a holistic approach to care. Through this, patients are treated with dignity and respect even with minimal chances of survival. Pain management is the most important aspect of cancer treatment.

Physical needs in cancer patients comprise of the changes brought about by cancer treatment. Intensive chemotherapy causes loss of hair which may make the patient feel insecure.

Changes may also occur on their nails and skin, thereby changing the physical looks of the

STUDY OF CANCER patient. Offering alternatives such as hair wigs, beautifying products, as well as providing emotional encouragement makes the patient feel loved and beautiful. Pain management is another way of lessening physical and psychological effects. If not, pain compromises on outcomes and may lead to depression and anxiety (Andersen et al., 2014).

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7 References

Andersen, B. L., DeRubeis, R. J., Berman, B. S., Gruman, J., Champion, V. L., Massie, M. J..., & Rowland, J. H. (2014). Screening, assessment, and care of anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults with cancer: An American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline adaptation. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 32(15), 1605-1619.

Chambers, J. B., & Mansi, J. (2018). Complications of cancer. In Springings, D., & Chambers, J. B. (Eds). Acute medicine‐ A practical guide to the management of medical emergencies (5th ed.) (pp. 605-611). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Nomikos, I. N. (2017). The TNM staging system: A stable value in the battle against cancer. A brief historical overview. Hellenic Journal of Surgery, 89(3-4), 132-132.

Moore, A. S., &Frimberger, A. E. (2016). Staging of cancer. Oncology for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, 25-41.

Tan, A. (2014). Cancer diagnosis: Staging and imaging. Clinical oncology for students. Cancer Council Australia.