Nursing Process- Approach to Care
Type of Cancer Identification and Available Screening Methods
One of the most common types of cancer globally is breast cancer. It is the second cause of death among women worldwide, accounting for approximately more than 42,000 deaths in 2020 (Burguin et al., 2021). Nonetheless, breast cancer screening is a life-saving tool that ensures early detection, allows prompt action, and results in a better prognosis. Mammography still emerges as the most relevant method of screening for breast cancer, providing a basis for women 40 years old and above. The age of initiation of screening and the duration of the screenings cause commotion, while, on the other hand, debates arise concerning the age at which breast cancer screening should start and the intervals of screenings. Both clinical breast examination (CBE) and breast self-examination (BSE) are complementary to breast screening (Budh & Sapra, 2020). The integration of the modern scanning system of digital breast tomosynthesis DBT into mammography screening increases sensitivity and specificity and is outstanding for women with dense breast tissue.
The Different Types of Diagnostic Methods Used
Each specific case and the age of the patient affects the way of diagnosing cancer, so specialists resort to a vast number of methods when devising diagnostic plans. For pediatric populations, the identification method usually relies on the use of comprehensive physical examination, scans or MRI, and laboratory tests that may include blood tests or biopsies (Pulumati et al., 2023). The main purpose of pathological data examination is to detect any aberrant factors in a child’s health or development that may indicate the implications of cancer. Diagnostic tools available to adults may vary, and CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, and tissue biopsies are possible during pathological analysis, serving as imaging modalities (Pulumati et al., 2023).
As for the staging system, there are two commonly used ones: the number technique and the TNM, tumor, node, metastasis one. The numerical stage is a clinical breakdown of the stages of cancer that is assigned a stage number, usually ranging from 0 to IV, indicating the extent of cancer invasion, with higher numbers indicating more advanced disease. This grading system provides a uniform algorithmic approach towards communicating the cancer stage of severity and thereby helps oncologists plan treatment. On the other hand, the TNM method evaluates three key aspects of cancer: the tumor whose size and the degree of enlargement (T), the involvement of nearby lymph nodes (N), and the presence of metastasis (M) (Rosen & Sapra, 2020). Assessment of these factors gives an opportunity to divide cancers into different stages, describes cancer growth in more detail, and is the instrument that helps design tailor-made strategies for treatment matched with the patient’s universe of probable outcomes.
Anticipated Outcomes of Care
Complicated foresight in breast cancer treatment may encompass both adverse effects, unforeseen consequences, and a favorable prognosis. One of the foreseen outcomes may be a successful tumor excision, remission, and accrued best quality of life after treatment completion. Nevertheless, sometimes, unforeseen instances such as cancer spread, therapy issues, or negative responses to the treatment undertaken might take place. Adverse effects of therapy include lymphedema, a chronic disorder characterized by swelling in the arm as a result of the loss of lymphatic drainage after the removal of lymph nodes (Zhou et al., 2022). Aside from menopause symptoms induced by chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, adverse effects like hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness can occur, being responsible for women’s physical and mental health.
Physical treatments such as manual lymphatic drainage can be used to relieve swelling. However, the benefit of exercise and some compression garments can be realized if these practices are incorporated. These techniques can help minimize swelling and improve arm mobility. Psychological counseling and peer support, as found in group sessions or mindfulness programs, could improve self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and negative body image concerns (Zhou et al., 2022). Acupuncture and yoga treatments may supplement traditional medicine in controlling symptoms from the treatments. Two natural options used to help with menopausal symptoms are black cohosh and soy.
A Summary of Cancer Incident Rates for Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is one of the essential health predicaments in the United States, with reported cases 281,550 in 2021. Although the diagnostic and therapy developments have not progressed extremely quickly, breast cancer prevalence has remained more or less steady, which reveals the necessity of an effective prevention scheme. To decrease the mortality and morbidity of breast cancer and other cancers annually, municipal efforts that encompass primary prevention, early detection, and lifestyle alteration occupy the key role. Promoting routine breast cancer screenings, especially mammography for women above age forty, and offering it among women from ages forty to sixty-five can facilitate early diagnosis and generate better treatment outcomes (Israel Oluwasegun Ayenigbara, 2023). Furthermore, providing healthy lifestyle habits tips like opting for a balanced diet, joining physical activity, reduction of alcohol intake, and non-use of smoking can help in both the prevention of breast cancer and other cancers.
Additionally, such community-oriented prevention programs as improving cancer awareness, expanding access to healthcare services, and cracking down on socioeconomic inequalities can help to boost the chances of early cancer detection and treatment initiation among the poor population. Increasing investment in cancer research to empower the development of individualized prevention tactics, novel cure approaches, and therapies targeted to specific patient’s genetic traits is also a key aspect in lowering the cancer burden since it reduces cancer incidence and mortality rates (Israel Oluwasegun Ayenigbara, 2023).
The American Cancer Society
From the stage of diagnosis to survivorship to end of life, the American Cancer Society (ACS) provides a comprehensive collection of educational resources and assistance services to people fighting cancer. ACS facilitates the provision of self-empowered tools such as telephone counseling support catered by trained professionals who afford individualized advice and empathetic support to cancer patients in addition to their families (Alfano et al., 2019). As an additional strategy, ACS also supports community-based programs and peer-to-peer support groups where individuals can interact with other people with life-threatening diseases, share experiences, and take the necessary action.
Nurses may offer their patients information about the benefits of attending the different ACS functions to help their cancer journey be more efficient. One instance is Road to Recovery, a program that supplies patients who have to undergo treatment and possess limited travel means with public transportation alternatives. On the other hand, the Hope Lodge program provides lodging services for cancer patients and caretakers who are required to travel a great distance toward treatment facilities (Park et al., 2019). The services offered to these communities are meant to deal with the practical side of cancer as well as the psychological aspect to give patients confidence in their ability to stand up to this challenge.
Significance of an Interdisciplinary Research Approach in Building on the Foundational Nursing Knowledge
Through interdisciplinary research in cancer research that involves liberal arts, science studies, mathematics, and physical sciences, nursing knowledge becomes incredibly richly ingrained and emergent. Researchers may need help embracing diversified fields. The method they use will provide them with a broad view of cancer and discover more components, such as the biological, psychological, cultural, and social aspects of cancer. Part of social health that can be brought in with disciplines including sociology and anthropology will show the types of disparities in cancer care among different groups (Smye & Frangi, 2021). This, in turn, will result in the delivery of culturally competent care. Integration of science and math enabled nurses to sharpen their analytical thinking, which would then be directed toward the evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment and the outcome of the patients. Creative engineering works in synergy with the physical sciences to bring about cutting-edge technologies for cancer detection and cure (Smye & Frangi, 2021). In the end, interdisciplinary research accomplishes scientific knowledge and also strengthens nursing practice through evidence-based solutions and multi-sided cancer problems, taking a holistic point of view.
Utilizing the Nursing Process to Provide Safe and Effective Care
Cancer care is ensured through the nursing process, which is a systematized guideline that helps in the delivery of safe and effective care to patients of all ages. Holistic and patient-centered approaches are emphasized in this. Assessment, the first stage of cancer care management, requires collecting data on physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs as well as information about the individual’s cancer stage and the treatment regime (Toney-Butler & Thayer, 2023). Nurses engage in extensive assessment where they can detect risks and rate treatment tolerance; besides, they also want to understand what the patient wants to achieve or what is of concern to them.
Nurses jointly consider with other health professionals to translate test data and problems that arise from cancer and its treatment to form clear nursing diagnoses. These diagnoses are very specific, including guidelines determining how individualized care plans will be developed and applied to the patient’s unique needs and goals. The planning phase involves the joint setting of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, which are a key component of the patient’s and family’s goals. Implementation, the fourth phase, touches on actualizing care plans, dispensing medication, recognizing complications, and teaching the patients and their families about self-care strategies and supporting resources (Toney-Butler & Thayer, 2023). The evaluation consists of monitoring the experience, designing the interventions accordingly, evaluating the effect on the patient’s health, and changing or adding new ones according to the patient’s responses or changing needs; this is to ensure that there is continuity of care.
References
Alfano, C. M., Mayer, D. K., Bhatia, S., Maher, J., Scott, J. M., Nekhlyudov, L., Merrill, J. K., & Henderson, T. O. (2019). Implementing personalized pathways for cancer follow‐up care in the United States: Proceedings from an American Cancer Society–American Society of Clinical Oncology summit. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 69(3), 234–247. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21558
Budh, D. P., & Sapra, A. (2020). Cancer breast screening. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556050/
Burguin, A., Diorio, C., & Durocher, F. (2021). Breast cancer treatments: Updates and new challenges. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(8), 808. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11080808
Israel Oluwasegun Ayenigbara. (2023). Risk-reducing measures for cancer prevention. Korean Journal of Family Medicine, 44(2), 76–86. https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.22.0167
Park, S.-H., Knobf, M. T., Kerstetter, J., & Jeon, S. (2019). Adherence to American Cancer Society guidelines on nutrition and physical activity in female cancer survivors. Cancer Nursing, 42(3), 242–250. https://doi.org/10.1097/ncc.0000000000000602
Pulumati, A., Pulumati, A., Dwarakanath, B. S., Verma, A., & Papineni, R. V. L. (2023). Technological advancements in cancer diagnostics: Improvements and limitations. Cancer Reports, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.1764
Rosen, R. D., & Sapra, A. (2020). TNM classification. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553187/
Smye, S. W., & Frangi, A. F. (2021). Interdisciplinary research: Shaping the healthcare of the future. Future Healthcare Journal, 8(2), e218–e223. https://doi.org/10.7861/fhj.2021-0025
Toney-Butler, T. J., & Thayer, J. M. (2023, April 10). Nursing process. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499937/
Zhou, K., Bellanger, M., Le Lann, S., Robert, M., Frenel, J.-S., & Campone, M. (2022). The predictive value of patient-reported outcomes on the impact of breast cancer treatment-related quality of life. Frontiers in Oncology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/
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Question 
Write a paper (1,250–1,500 words) on cancer and the approach to care based on the utilization of the nursing process. Include the following in your paper:
Identify a specific type of cancer and the available screening methods.
Describe the different types of diagnostic methods across the lifespan utilized to identify the possibility of cancer. Explain the numerical method and the tumor, node, metastasized (TNM) method of staging for cancer after the confirmed diagnosis.
Nursing Process- Approach to Care
Anticipate outcomes of care (expected, unexpected, and potentially adverse). Describe at least three complications of your selected cancer, the side effects of treatment (excluding nausea, vomiting, and hair loss), and methods to lessen physical and psychological effects, including alternative measures and pharmaceutical/herbal options.
Summarize cancer incident rates for your selected cancer. What preventative measures can be taken to reduce the yearly morbidity and mortality rate of various cancers in Americans?
Explain what the American Cancer Society (ACS) might provide for education and support. What ACS services could a nurse recommend for these patients and why?
How does an interdisciplinary research approach (which includes liberal arts, science studies, mathematics, and social and physical sciences) build on the foundational nursing knowledge related to cancer research?
Explain how the nursing process is utilized to provide safe and effective care for cancer patients across the lifespan. Your explanation should include how each of the five phases of the nursing process demonstrates the delivery of holistic and patient-focused care.