Nursing Process: Holistic Approach to Cancer Care and Interventions

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the nursing process in cancer care, beginning with the diagnosis and staging of cancer and elaborating on potential complications and side effects of various treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It emphasizes the importance of both physical and psychological interventions, highlighting the nurse's role in patient education, self-care management, and motivation. The essay also discusses contributing factors to cancer in the US, the role of the American Cancer Society, and the effective utilization of the nursing process in treatment, including evidence-based practice and patient-centered approaches. Furthermore, it touches upon the contribution of liberal arts and science to nursing, emphasizing critical thinking and holistic care.

Running head: NURSING PROCESS: APPROACH TO CARE
NURSING PROCESS: APPROACH TO CARE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer
Cancer is one of the chronic diseases which are predominant in the present situation. On
this context it has been found that the diagnosis of cancer is very much important for the care of
the disease. However, it has been found that the diagnosis of the disease dependent on different
medical and clinical processes and not on the nursing processes. However, the context of the
development of the disease should also be considered for proper treatment as the disease has
several steps based on the severity. The stages of cancer have been classified as stage 0 or
carcinoma which is not cancer and consisting of abnormal cells and can develop cancer; stage
1which is early stage of cancer and the cancer is in small area; stage 2 and 3 which are large
level of cancer that is the cancer has been spread into the nearby tissues and lymph nodes; finally
the stage 4 which is the advanced stage or metastatic cancer that is spread into other parts of the
body (Weigel et al., 2016). In order to determine the possibility and the severity of the cancer of
a patient the clinical diagnosis would be conducted. These diagnoses are comprised of X-ray,
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound or Ultrasonography and the most effective
process is biopsy of the tissue for the possibility and severity determination of the patient (Guo et
al., 2018). Hence, it can be stated that the diagnosis of the cancer is important for the
determination and the classification of the cancer as this can help in the nursing and clinical
planning for the patient (Titano, Noor & Kim, 2017).
Complications of Cancer
It has been seen that the cancer is a disease which has different effects on the body of the
patient. The most prominent effect is the chemical changes in the body. On this context it has
been seen that the affected cells of the body eventually lose functionality. Thus, it has been seen
that there are different issues are found in a cancer patient such as the lassitude or lack of energy,

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backache, weakness, constipation, nausea, somnolence that is the unusual sleeping disorder,
vomiting, dehydration, paleness, tenderness, anemia and sometimes kyphosis that is abnormality
of the spinal cord (Jagsi et al., 2016). All these earlier mentioned dysfunctions in the body are
mainly found to be the most common complexity of cancer.
Side effects of Treatment
It has been seen that the cancer treatment is also dependent on the severity and the
position of the cancer. On this context it has been seen that then process of the treatment includes
medication, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. On this context it has been seen that the
chemotherapy is one of the most common procedure in the treatment and it has certain impact on
the body including hair loss, nausea, and loss of appetite, diarrhea, and constipation and most
importantly it affects the immune system of the body which is already weak (Halpern et al.,
2016). Thus, due to weakness of the immune system there is possibility of developing other
infectious diseases as well. On the other hand the radiotherapy has a range of impacts over the
body as well including skin issues, fatigue, and long term side effects such as development of
different cancer due to the exposure of radiation on the body as well. Bladder irritation and rectal
bleeding are also developed through this treatment procedure implementation. However, loss of
appetite, mouth soreness, head and neck pain, hair loss and constipation are the common issues
found. Moreover, the surgical treatment has distinct effect on body as it generates pain and risk
of infection as well (Zhuang et al., 2016). Furthermore, the medication treatment also has some
effects such as gastrointestinal issues, hypertension, anxiety, delirium and others as well. Hence,
it can be seen that the treatment procedure of cancer can reduce the cancer effects however; the
side effects are severe as well.

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Physical intervention
The physical intervention of the cancer patients would comprise of the planning of the
care after the treatment provided to the affected patient. It has been seen that the patients
provided with chemotherapy or radiotherapy needs support. Moreover, the nurse is responsible
for educating the patient as well supporting the patient in proper self care management and
physical strength build up. Cancer and the cancer treatment both affect the body in terms of
strength decrease and develop a very fragile condition. Hence, daily physical activity, strength
build up procedures, diet and nutritional management, medication management and self
management skills of the patients should be built by the nurse. In order to develop all these
factors the nurse should implement evidence based practice educate the patient accordingly. The
care plan or intervention comprises of support and education providence to the patient (Sanson et
al., 2019).
Psychological Intervention
In terms of cancer patients the psychological aspect is very much important as the disease
is too much affective and leads to mental trauma as well. On this context the nurse should be
able to communicate with the patient properly and develop a therapeutic relationship as well. It
has been seen that many cancer patient lack motivation towards living thus the motivating and
positive communication from the nurse would help the patients regaining positivity of life.
Moreover, the patient should be provided with patient centered approach of care and positive
conversation along with empathy. The nurse should educate the patient about healthy living
procedures to develop the positive attitude of the patient as well. Hence, self efficacy build up of
the patient is important as well. It can be stated that the psychological intervention should be
developed with the consideration of the positive behavior and attitude development of the

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patient. The motivation development is one of the most important aspects in this process
(Charalambous et al., 2018).
Contributing Factors of Cancer in US
Cancer is a very uncertain disease that is it has no certain cause of development.
However, it has been seen that the disease has been generally developed due to the inheritance
from the ancestral genes containing cancer syndrome, exposure to the toxic or unwanted
environmental conditions and any random chances also present for the development of the
cancer (Blackadar, 2016). On this context it can be found that the process of the cancer
development n maximum times has no certain cause and thus, it can be stated that the over
eating, exposure to radiation, unhealthy habits, sedentary life style and other environmental
issues can be marked as the contributing factors of the cancer development among people.
However, most of the time it has been seen that the lack of education or awareness can be
highlighted as the contributing factor of the cancer. Moreover, the unhealthy diet that is the junk
food consumption is also a factor for the development of cancer among the people. Thus, the
modern lifestyle of consuming unhealthy food and using of electronic goods would be the most
prominent factor in the development of cancer. The use of electronic goods leads to the exposure
of radiation which can effectively develop the cancer among the people as well. Thus, it can be
stated that the process of the cancer development cannot be specified (Smith et al., 2018).
However, the process of cancer development is certainly dependent on environmental and
behavioral aspects of the people. Based on the census data it has been found that the incidence
rate of cancer in America is 439.2 per 100000 people including men and women of the country
(National Cancer Institute, 2018). On the other hand it has been seen that the mortality rate due
to cancer in the country has also been found in the census data and the rate is 163.5 per 100000

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people including men and women of America (National Cancer Institute, 2018). Hence, it can be
found that the cancer is one of the predominant diseases among the American population.
Role of American cancer Society
"To save lives by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures, and
fighting back" (Cancer.org, 2019). The American Cancer Society is one of the volunteer
organization working for the reduction or elimination of cancer among the American population.
According to them they are developing the cure for cancer. The organization developed in 1913
and spread into 6 regional areas of America. The organization is a medical as well as voluntary
organization working for cancer prevention. It has been seen that the organization has 250
offices across the country (Cancer.org, 2019). The organization is working for the cancer
preventing cure production as well as reducing the incidence rate of the disease among the
citizens of the country. Hence, it can be classified as the nonprofit organization. The organization
has developed partnership with the government and also funded by WHO. On this context it can
be found that the large amount of medical or clinical personnel is associated with this
organization and other medical facilities to reduce the severity of cancer. This organization helps
the people affected with cancer by providing them mental and physical support providence. This
organization also helps the people with cancer by means of providing them clinical assistance. It
can also be stated that the organization working for a noble deed as cancer is one of the diseases
which affects the people in terms of physical, psychological, social and economical factors. On
this context it can also be found that the organization provides help to the people who are from
lower economic group as the treatment process of the disease is costly. The organization is
voluntary and thus the organization helps the people by raising funds for them as well.

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Moreover, it has been seen that the organization is effectively helping the people to fight cancer
(Runowicz et al., 2016).
Utilizing Nursing Process
In terms of the cancer treatment it has been seen that the chemotherapy, radiotherapy are
the most common processes. However, these processes have certain effects over the body and
takes time. Most of the time it has been seen that the patients are affected with cancer experience
mental trauma in a higher level. Thus, the nursing procedure such as the evidence based practice
and patient centered approach should be implemented. The therapeutic relationship with the
patient and the positive motivation development on the patient’s side nursing is very much
effective. It has also been seen that the procedure of nursing is one of the most important factors
in the cancer treatment as most of the patients lack motivation of living after knowing about their
situation. Moreover, the nurses also help in education development and rehabilitation care of the
patients after the implementation of the chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It has also been seen that
the effective communication and motivation helps in developing healthy habits among cancer
patients and put the chances of re development of cancer in check. Thus, nursing processes are
important and effective for the cancer treatment (Dülgerler & Çam, 2016).
Contribution of Liberal arts and Science to Nursing
Liberal arts and science are integrated and focused on the development of the knowledge
scientifically that is effective and critical thinking development. Thus, it can be found that these
aspects of education can help the nurses in development of the critical assessment regarding
clinical decision making, holistic care providence, evidence based practice implementation and
also the empathy that is the emotional support providence to the patients in a better and improved

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way. Hence, it can be stated that the process of the nursing education should be comprised of the
concern of the clinical decision making skills. Hence, the liberal arts and the scientific education
development among the nurses would be effective for the development of the better decision
making of the nurses and thus implementing better clinical procedures. These processes would
be helpful for the nurses in providing mental and physical support to the patients (Buran, 2019).

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