Approach to Care of Cancer
Approach to Care of Cancer
Cancer is considered the second leading cause of death in the United States resulting in about 25% of deaths (Copstead, & Banasik, 2010). The term cancer encompasses a cluster of more than one hundred diseases. Though there are various kinds of cancer, all cancers start due to abnormal cells growth. The typical characteristic of a cancerous cell is that they grow out of control and invade other tissue through the bloodstream or lymph vessels. If untreated, cancers can result in serious complications and death (American cancer Society (ACS), 2012). Although the cause of various cancers remains unknown, still there are several known causes such as: genetic factors; lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, diet, and physical activity; certain types of infections for example, HPV and HIV; and environmental exposures to different types of chemicals and radiation (ACS, 2014). It is predicted by ACS (2012) that 1/2 of all men and 1/3 of all women in the United States will develop cancer in their lifetime. The risk of many cancers could be minimized by lifestyle modification and screening. This paper will discuss the diagnosis and staging of cancer, three complications of the disease, side effects of treatment, and methods to minimize physical and psychological effects of cancer treatments. Diagnosis There is not a single test to confirm the diagnosis of cancer; it requires series of different test to confirm the diagnosis. It usually begins with obtaining detailed history and conducting physical examination. The patient symptoms differ depending on the type and extent of the disease. Localized symptoms of cancer relate to the primary site of the disease. The seven warning signs of cancer includes change in bowel or bladder habits, a sore that does not heal, unusual bleeding or discharge, thickening or lump in an area of the body, indigestion or difficulty in swallowing, obvious change in wart or mole, and nagging cough or hoarseness
Cancer is considered the second leading cause of death in the United States resulting in about 25% of deaths (Copstead, & Banasik, 2010). The term cancer encompasses a cluster of more than one hundred diseases. Though there are various kinds of cancer, all cancers start due to abnormal cells growth. The typical characteristic of a cancerous cell is that they grow out of control and invade other tissue through the bloodstream or lymph vessels. If untreated, cancers can result in serious complications and death (American cancer Society (ACS), 2012). Although the cause of various cancers remains unknown, still there are several known causes such as: genetic factors; lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, diet, and physical activity; certain types of infections for example, HPV and HIV; and environmental exposures to different types of chemicals and radiation (ACS, 2014). It is predicted by ACS (2012) that 1/2 of all men and 1/3 of all women in the United States will develop cancer in their lifetime. The risk of many cancers could be minimized by lifestyle modification and screening. This paper will discuss the diagnosis and staging of cancer, three complications of the disease, side effects of treatment, and methods to minimize physical and psychological effects of cancer treatments. Diagnosis There is not a single test to confirm the diagnosis of cancer; it requires series of different test to confirm the diagnosis. It usually begins with obtaining detailed history and conducting physical examination. The patient symptoms differ depending on the type and extent of the disease. Localized symptoms of cancer relate to the primary site of the disease. The seven warning signs of cancer includes change in bowel or bladder habits, a sore that does not heal, unusual bleeding or discharge, thickening or lump in an area of the body, indigestion or difficulty in swallowing, obvious change in wart or mole, and nagging cough or hoarseness