Cancer Prevention and Survivorship: A Nursing Perspective

This essay provides a reflective analysis of cancer survivorship from the perspective of a specialist cancer nurse. The author, drawing upon personal experiences in an oncology department, explores the three stages of survivorship: acute, extended, and permanent. The essay emphasizes the importance of cancer prevention, health promotion, and patient education throughout the survivorship journey. It discusses the role of nurses in providing care, counseling, and organizing awareness programs for patients and their families. The author highlights the psychological impact of cancer and the need for nurses to offer empathy and mental support. References to relevant literature support the discussion of cancer treatment, late effects, and the overall impact of cancer on individuals and their families. The essay advocates for a holistic approach to cancer care, emphasizing the nurse's vital role in improving long-term outcomes for cancer survivors.

CANCER PREVENTION IN THE SURVIVORSHIP
SETTING

In this present essay, I will reflect my personal experiences on phrases of survivorship of
children who are diagnosed with cancer. Presently I am working as a specialist cancer nurse for
children in the oncologist department of a reputed hospital. For fulfilling this task, I would like to
focus mainly on cancer prevention care in the survivorship setting.
As a senior nurse, I have experienced a number of cancer patients and their pain during treatment
procedure which enriches my critical thinking ability in personal and professional life. From my
experiences, I have learned that cancer survivorship has three consecutive stages that are acute,
extended, and permanent.
The acute stage indicates the diagnosis of cancer up to the end of initial treatment procedures. It
may last for a few months to one or two years. Once a patient has been diagnosed with cancer, a
core treatment plan is prepared based on age, cancer origin, and immunity. In this plan, we are
advised to take care of the patients and support the family members. We encourage parents by
informing the positive factors and consequences of the treatment procedures. In this stage,
anxiety, fear is observed within the patient as they are not used to with the treatment procedures
( Lewis-Patterson, Palos, Dains & Jackson, 2019).
After the end of acute treatment procedure patients are advised for extended treatment for a full
recovery. This phase needs more counseling and knowledge regarding oncology treatment. As a
specialist oncology nurse, I often perform this task. For doing this, I usually arrange workshops
and promotional events regarding cancer-related nursing care with the help of doctors and
administration department for my subordinate staff. The hospital authority also encourages me to
arrange some awareness programs and promotional events for the children and their parents. The
main aim of these events is to educate them about oncology and its various stages along with the
treatment procedures (Leigh, 2007).

The last stage of survivorship setting of cancer treatment is 'permanent.' Permanent phase
indicates a low risk for recurrence of cancer. This stage lasts for more than one year. This stage
demands palliative and allied nursing care for the patient. The strict diet needs to be maintained
in order to get the previous health back (Leighton, 2014).
Chemotherapy and radiation processes have certain side effects as they kill normal body cells
along with myeloma cells. It indicates dysfunctioning of the necessary body regulation system.
Thus, we always encourage our patients and their family members to live a healthy life to reduce
the chances of recurrence of cancer.
Cancer affects not only physiology but also psychology. Cancer has a huge negative impact on
the brain, which encourages depression, fear of death, anxiety, etc. Hence, as a senior oncology
nurse, I advise my subordinates to care for patients with more love, empathy, and passion. They
need mental support to fight with cancer ("Day in the Life of a Pediatric Oncology Nurse
Practitioner", 2019).
In my institution, there are many individuals like doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals
who have experienced cancer directly or indirectly in their life like me. Hence, our main motto is
to enhance awareness regarding cancer within communities through organizing various
promotional and awareness events.

References
Day in the Life of a Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner. (2019). Retrieved 23 September
2019, from https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/blog/day-in-life-of-pediatric-
oncology-np/
Leigh, S. (2007). Cancer survivorship: A nursing perspective. In Cancer Survivorship (pp. 8-13).
Springer, New York, NY.
Leighton, P. (2014). Cancer survivorship - American Nurse Today. Retrieved 23 September
2019, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/cancer-survivorship/
Lewis-Patterson, P., Palos, G., Dains, J., & Jackson, T. (2019). Cancer Prevention in the
Survivorship Setting. Retrieved 23 September 2019, from