Social Healthcare for the Elderly Abuse Order Instructions: The guided word limit is 2750 words

Social Healthcare for the Elderly Abuse Sample Answer

Social Healthcare for the Elderly

Introduction

This essay revolves around the case review associated with elderly abuse in health and social care. Elderly abuse has been on the high increase in the recent past largely because the government has failed to perform its obligations.

This paper sets out to put certain issues into perspective so as to enable a friendly environment to the elderly to the elderly persons in the community.

Task 1.1 Description of how information could reach the public

The content based on the case study analysed in this paper ought to reach the public sphere at all costs. To begin with, there is a need for a well-structured response mechanism to facilitate the disclosure of all manner of abuses to the concerned authorities (Seale, 2003). Again, the abused persons should not be afraid of the outcomes of disclosing the wrongs meted against them. There has been a culture where wrongs meted out by one party are perpetuated because the injured party is ignorant of the right channels that would help them seek help or talk about them to get the required public attention. In our contemporary world, for instance, help relating to electronic shopping, fast foods among other associated aspects is widely available.                               Nonetheless, no one pays much attention to  the elderly. Moreover, available channels of communication have been outrun with time, an aspect that makes it intricate to communicate.  This backdrop calls for an appropriate review of the situation by the regulators. However, because the government may not be able to do everything for everyone, people ought to take initiatives when it comes to reporting the issues to the relevant authorities. In the UK, for instance, the modifications to the components of Southern Cross have culminated to several mistakes (Hara, 2011).                                                                                                             The Southern Cross has been relentless to providing new information concerning the projected new operators for a momentous proportion of its residential and nursing homes in England.  Nonetheless, owing to poor management and communication methods, there is a scenario of chaos right now (Johnston & Andy, 2013). The authorities and the law enforcers should work closely with those respective houses. On the other hand, the locals should help the authorities as much as they can to ensure these cases are reported promptly.

Task 1.2 Analysis of different media techniques such as media, leaflets, newspapers used for communicating information associated with elderly care.

Media plays an integral role when it comes to disseminating societal issues. However, information linked to elderly care never reaches the public because of the failure of the media to report about it. Nevertheless, the media house should not be subjected to blames or held responsible for not covering some issues, or for simply reporting issues that the public is interested to hear. Contemporary media for instance, reports more about the popular trends regardless of whether or not they have any relevance to the public (Hickey, 2014). During prime time, media goes out to report sensational news too. In this respect, the perception of the media attitude should be altered (Davies, 2005). Moreover, information associated with elderly issues should be disseminated without any repression or omission. With the advents of social media, it becomes easier to disclose social ills rather fast. There is a need to put into use social media.

Task 1.3 influence of divergent ways on people’s attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors

Much as  people’s attitudes and behaviors are diverse, it is easier to influence them through different channels. For instance, type of media, presentation layout, content, logical visual basics, and sound influence people’s attitudes and behaviors. And because the people’s attitudes can be altered through visualization and sounds, it becomes effective per se. In due course, enhancing people’s understanding about particular issues through graphical representations will certainly enhance their attitudes and behavior.

Task 2.1 Influence of media on the attitudes and behaviour of people

The media has many functions and the key one is informing the public about current events. In the healthcare sector, the media informs the public about current issues related to health and social care including an outbreak of illnesses, new medicines, treatment techniques and so forth. The increased demand for data has contributed to advancement in periodicals, newspapers, television programs that address health, and social care. Discussions on current events associated with health and social care is done to inform public. Such debates involve professionals from different fields of health and social care to influence perception of the public (Willby, 2008). For instance, in the US there was a discussion on a department in Novartis that paid a large sum of money to physicians following a prescription manufactured by the company. This scenario will affect public behaviors and attitude towards the products of these firms.

The media can be used as a watchdog of political structure to influence people’s attitude and behaviour. This way the media creates awareness about political structures, by releasing important political opinions, and conditions associated with health and social care. Therefore, a person is empowered to access information about the government, rights and assists them in formulating decisions in health and social care (Davies, 2005).

Moreover, the media is in charge of educating people on health and social care, as it is able to reach many. For instance, the media can educate the public about risks associated with smoking. This can be carried out through health education programs through social media platforms. Again, the media can be used as a platform for announcing events related to health and social care including risks of certain drugs, and epidemics. Health and social care institutions can also utilize the media to market services to the larger public. However, they should ensure that the ads are convincing and also attractive to help people make informed decisions (Kelly et al. 2005). The objective of any ad is to attract the attention of people; the more attractive the ad is the higher the ability to influence their attitudes and behaviors.

Task 2.2 Evaluating the Reliability and Validity Of Media Content

It’s vital for people to assess validity as well as the reliability of information prior to considering it factual. The public can ascertain this by evaluating the source of information, the issuance of the data and the manner in which it is released and presented. There are different sources of data, for example, government websites, and advocacy groups, political, and religious institutions. The public must understand the agenda behind any information or basically to create awareness. For instance, information released by the Ministry of Health (MoH) on a given policy issue is reliable in comparison to that provided by lobby groups (Hopson, 2013).

Presently, UK is campaigning for quality health and social care by incorporating the elderly people. This campaign is organized by the government, making it valid and reliable as it values the interests of its population. Conversely, in the United States, there is Obama care, which purposes to modify insurance sector to cater for the healthcare needs of low-income earners. The bill was widely debated; some opposed it while other supported it. However, the media plays an important role of presenting facts and views about the bill (Hopson, 2013). By and large, the public must get information from reliable sources like government sites and publications.

Task 3.1 Contemporary Issue

Compared to previous years, Britain population is healthier than ever. Nonetheless, regardless of the improving health of the population, minorities’ health is increasing at a remarkable low rate in comparison to the general population. In the attempt to address the issues, it has been challenging, particularly, for healthcare providers as well as policy makers. It is evident that causes of inequalities are determined based on social factors (Hara, 2011). Employment industry and education structures plan access to job opportunities based on the society. Moreover, inequalities are influenced by sexuality, gender, and racial background. Experts have demonstrated that addressing unequal allocation of the variable of health is vital in terms of improving Britain’s health sector. Facts on the mortality rates of immigrants demonstrate the presence of heterogeneity across minorities.

Task 3.2 Monitoring different perspectives

In the UK, ethnic groups comprise of about eight percent or 4.6 million individuals of the entire population. Previous studies have shown that racial communities have a low quality of health in comparison to white Caucasians in conditions like heart diseases, mental health, and stroke among others (Hickey, 2014). In the past years, healthcare inequalities of various ethnicities are common in various healthcare institutions across the UK. The UK government in the past decade provided data on the healthcare gaps across the nation and also certain areas that the gap was increasing (Davies, 2005). The inequalities start at birth, for example, children born in poor households are in danger of being born premature and developing chronic illness in adulthood. This leads to the cycle of inequalities. As such, the government has initiated a number of measures with the objective of investigating aspects of healthcare inequalities while reducing it among racial communities. Some of the initiatives are; Health Challenge England; Spearhead Primary Care Trusts; Race for Care and so forth. Much as initiatives were introduced to not only improve, but also minimise healthcare gaps. Some have been successful, while others were have failed in addressing inequalities in healthcare.

Task 3.3 Significance of results to health and social care

Previous studies on health and social care documented in a number of journals have been the basis upon which health experts use to practice while improving service delivery. These studies are crucial when it comes to creating awareness about challenges in health and social care and presents a general understanding of handling such challenges. For example, many intellectuals have investigated about the significance of training of healthcare experts on ethnicity and cultural diversity of UK’s populace (Davies, 2005). This a suitable step because it helps health care experts to be conscious of the expectations of racial communities, including beliefs, practices, and social conditions. Furthermore, findings are used publicly as the foundation for informing them about new events in health and social care industry such that the they are aware of the healthcare gaps across health care institutions across the UK. Data from government published on their sites about health care gaps is helpful since it informs the public on current issues on health and social care. In addition, advocacy groups publish information about social and health care on their sites and other channels to create public awareness.

Task 3.4 Factors influencing development of various perspectives

A number of factors are attributed to the development of various perspectives over a given time frame, for instance, ignorance about the health care requirements racial minorities. Regardless, of the enhanced outcomes conducted through ethnic diversity initiatives, three is a lack of provisions for health care experts across the UK apart from in psychiatry. Therefore, it is important for health education to integrate principle that purpose to achieve the objectives of improving health for the entire population, and identification of special health requirements, belief and communication challenges of racial groups (Anon, 2013). Many health professionals state that changing lifestyles in inner cities have contributed to increasing the number of ethnic minorities. In fact, Asians people in the UK has increased considerably, hence, it is crucial to find a remedy to these issues. Other elements that influence the growth of various perspectives include economic constraints, availability of adequate information, and changing roles of corporate in managing hospitals. These factors were evident in the past and they have greatly influenced the perception of people. As such, this is a field that planners and policy makers should take into account when making decisions (Anon. 2013).

Task4.1: The extent of local attitudes reflect those found at a national level

Recently, NHS has been under pressure to review measures aimed at reducing health inequalities. On one hand, reports indicate that NHS is not effective in terms of minimizing health inequalities, on the other, the gap is increasing considerably. The reports call upon the government to concentrate on issues at different health institutions while highlighting the main cause of such inequalities. Social and economic issues are main causes of changes in behaviour and attitude in local and national levels are not adequately emphasized (Morris, Carrell & McDonald, 2016). There is the need for education and training programs on social causes of illnesses while encouraging health specialists to advocate for patients. The media has played its role of reporting health gaps as well as changing racial minorities face in the UK. While the released data can be deceptive, its necessary for the government to provide information so as to ascertain accurate facts on health inequalities reach the public. Furthermore, the government must use various modes of media to release the information including television, radios, websites among others (Hara, 2011). Again, the government must inform the public on necessary measures to address health inequalities, for instance, integrating progress records on initiatives they have implemented.                                                                                  With respect to local level, there is a wide range of beliefs and practices that greatly influence health status. The majority of people in local areas do not want to change the manner in which they take medication, they still believe in their practices. This is an aspect that contributes to spreading of diseases. At the local level, social care facilities are regarded as ineffective and simply a place for caring for elderly individuals. Subsequently, local attitudes lead to many national issues. If individuals are not able to reduce the spread of endemic, it is reflected at the national level, which leads to remarkable risks to economic, health and physical issues. Therefore, to reduce while ensuring the country’s population is health, everyone should be involved.

Task 4.2 Evaluation of validity of public attitudes and behaviors

Healthcare is a field that entails creating awareness about health related issues (Willby, 2008). This also entails wide areas  associated with social, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and environmental health.  This is the basis upon which people learn to conduct themselves in a way that is appropriate to the promotion of health. In many instances, media post news without taking into account the element of empathy. The variation in public attitude and behaviour can be as a result of the gap in income. The public’s response to social platforms in the promotion of health is positive. As a matter of fact, social platforms are commonly employed to influence individuals’ behaviour towards health. Social promoters use several marketing strategies including placing information in clinics, community outreach, and promotion. Therefore, based on the case study the information will significantly influence public attitude as well as behaviors. In addition, releasing information on elderly abuse in the public will demonstrate the increased health gaps of this group.

In turn, this will contribute to the formation of groups that aims to create awareness about elderly abuse. The groups can also organize peaceful protests to get the government to enact laws that prohibit abuse of elderly. The groups can also educate elderly people about their rights and how to increase their wellbeing. Releasing such data contributes to contemporary thinking in terms of health and social care, which makes the government be effective in the provision of services to all.

Task 4.3 Effects of contemporary thinking

Contemporary thinking in the delivery of health and social care can result in many consequences. For instance, it helps in educating the public about what  the government is doing and ways of addressing a given social and health event. Nonetheless, the public should be cautious regarding the sources of the information. Moreover, the public must ensure the information is not only valid, but also reliable (Willby, 2008). This is because the released data impacts on the public’s attitude, behaviour, and thoughts.  Caution should then be considered prior to release. Contemporary thinking involves the utilization of informatics in health and social care, which is imperative in obtaining good outcomes including; management of care setting; team collaboration; and negotiation.

Social Healthcare for the Elderly Abuse Conclusion

In the end, this paper determined to highlight not just an overview and insight on global health issues, but also the role played by the media to inform the wider society. Accordingly, the public has a pertinent role to play as well. While almost everyone has an obligation towards reporting, individual attitudes and the motive behind reporting is of a great importance . The national health issues tend to play out in the global sphere. Hence globally major issues tend to happen to owe to the attitudes of local peoples. Again the relevant authorities should take a lead to create public awareness, in healthcare related issues and determine the veracity of publications. While it is vital to champion the notion that the young should always be educated through media, they should always take limited interest in media publications. It is imperative for the public to assess the consistency and legitimacy of media content before they can think of consuming it.  This starts with evaluating not just the information source, but also who is dispensing the information and how the content is disseminated. Some of these sources may include the political class, religious agenda, government sources and lobby groups among others. The public ought to analyse whether or not the information presented is aimed at playing with the public emotions or simply reporting plain facts.

Social Healthcare for the Elderly Abuse References

Anon., (2013). NHS told to do more to ‘reduce health inequalities’. Accessed on 24^th May, 2016    at http://www.bbc.com/news/health-21807157

Davies S. (2005). Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care Accessed on                    24^th of May, 2016 at http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-governance-            framework-for-health-       and-social-care-second-edition

Hara, O, M (2011). Sustainability: Living our values. Why the responsible reporting of mental                   health issues is so important. Accessed on 24^th May, 2016 at             http://www.theguardian.com/sustainability/blog/editorial-mental-health-reporting.

Hickey, S. (2014). How technology in the home can improve health and social care. Accessed                  on 24^th May, 2016 at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jul/13/technology-  home-improve-health-social-care

Hopson, C. (2013). Is the NHS really that bad – what does the evidence show? Accessed on 24^th             May, 2016 at http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/may/08/nhs-what-  does-evidence-show

Johnston J. & Andy D. (2013). Care homes let my dad starve to death. PUBLISHED: Accessed              on 24th May, 2016 at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2315603/Wanda-         Maddocks-secretly-jailed-trying-save-father-Here-exposes-shocking-      neglect.html#ixzz34QOSusrL

Kelly, M. P., McDaid, D., Ludbrook, A., & Powell, J. (2005). Economic appraisal of public                      health interventions. London: Health Development Agency. Accessed on 24^th May, 2016              at www.hda-online.org.uk

Morris, S., Carrell, S & McDonald, H. (2016). How healthcare differs across the UK. Accessed    on 24th May, 2016 at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/09/how-healthcare-    differs-across-the-UK

Seale C (2003). Media and Health Guidance and units – Edexcel Level 4 BTEC Higher                            Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – October 2004 155

Willby P. (2008). The media’s addiction to the controversy can seriously damage your health.       Accessed on 24^th May 2016 at             http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/aug/13/pressandpublishing.health

Describing the Approach to Care of Cancer Order Instructions: Details: Write a paper (1,250-1,750 words) describing the approach to the care of cancer.

In addition, include the following in your paper:

Describe the diagnosis and staging of cancer.
Describe at least three complications of cancer, the side effects of treatment, and methods to lessen physical and psychological effects.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using them
rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Only Word documents can be submitted to Turnitin.

Approach to Care

1
Unsatisfactory 0-72%
0.00%
2
Less Than Satisfactory 72-75%
75.00%
3
Satisfactory 76-79%
79.00%
4
Good 80-89%
89.00%
5
Excellent 90-100%
100.00%
80.0 %Content

30.0 %Explanation of the Diagnosis and Staging of Cancers is Provided.
An explanation of the diagnosis and staging of cancers is not provided.
An explanation of the diagnosis and staging of cancers is provided but is missing relevant information.
An explanation of the diagnosis and staging of cancers is provided that meets the assignment criteria.
An explanation of the diagnosis and staging of cancers is provided that is offered in a detailed manner.
An explanation of the diagnosis and staging of cancers is provided that is offered in a detailed manner while demonstrating higher level or critical thinking.
20.0 %At Least Three Complications of Cancer are Identified With Comprehensive Discussion of Available Treatments.
Less than three complications of cancer are identified.
At least three complications of cancer are identified but lacking a comprehensive discussion of available treatments.
At least three complications of cancer are identified with a comprehensive discussion of available treatments.
More than three complications of cancer are identified with a comprehensive discussion of available treatments.
More than three complications of cancer are identified with a comprehensive discussion of available treatments while demonstrating higher level or critical thinking.
30.0 %Provides Recommendations to Address Physiological and Psychological Side Effects of Care.
Recommendations to address the physiological and psychological side effects of care are lacking.
Recommendations to address the physiological and psychological side effects of care are missing relevant information.
Recommendations to address the physiological and psychological side effects of care meet the assignment criteria.
Recommendations to address the physiological and psychological side effects of care are offered in a detailed manner.
Recommendations to address the physiological and psychological side effects of care are offered in a detailed manner while demonstrating higher level or critical thinking.
15.0 %Organization and Effectiveness

5.0 %Thesis Development and Purpose
Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim.
Thesis and/or main claim are insufficiently developed and/or vague; the purpose is not clear.
Thesis and/or main claim are apparent and appropriate to the purpose.
Thesis and/or main claim are clear and forecast the development of the paper. It is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose.
Thesis and/or main claim are comprehensive; contained within the thesis is the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.
5.0 %Paragraph Development and Transitions
Paragraphs and transitions consistently lack unity and coherence. No apparent connections between paragraphs are established. Transitions are inappropriate to purpose and scope. An organization is disjointed.
Some paragraphs and transitions may lack logical progression of ideas, unity, coherence, and/or cohesiveness. Some degree of organization is evident.
Paragraphs are generally competent, but ideas may show some inconsistency in an organization and/or in their relationships to each other.
A logical progression of ideas between paragraphs is apparent. Paragraphs exhibit a unity, coherence, and cohesiveness. Topic sentences and concluding remarks are appropriate to the purpose.
There is a sophisticated construction of paragraphs and transitions. Ideas progress and relate to each other. Paragraph and transition construction guide the reader. Paragraph structure is seamless.
5.0 %Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)
Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice and/or sentence construction are used.
Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register), sentence structure, and/or word choice are present.
Some mechanical errors or typos are present but are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are used.
The prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. A variety of sentence structures and effective figures of speech are used.
A writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.
5.0 %Format2.0 %Paper Format (1- inch margins; 12-point-font; double-spaced; Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier)
A template is not used appropriately or documentation format is rarely followed correctly.
A template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken; lack of control with formatting is apparent.
A template is used, and formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present.
A template is fully used; There are virtually no errors in formatting style.
All format elements are correct.
3.0 %Research Citations (In-text citations for paraphrasing and direct quotes, and reference page listing and formatting, as appropriate to assignment)
No reference page is included. No citations are used.
The reference page is present. Citations are inconsistently used.
The reference page is included and lists sources used in the paper. Sources are appropriately documented, although some errors may be present.
The reference page is present and fully inclusive of all cited sources. Documentation is appropriate and GCU style is usually correct.
In-text citations and a reference page are complete. The documentation of cited sources is free of error.
100 %Total Weightage

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Describing the Approach to Care of Cancer Sample Answer

 Introduction

Cancer is a disease that arises when changes occur in a group of normal cells leading to uncontrolled growth that forms a tumor. This manifested in all cancers except cancer of the blood (leukemia). If untreated, tumors can grow and spread into the surrounding normal cells or other body parts through the lymphatic system or the bloodstream affecting the nervous, digestive, and circulatory systems. Globally, cancer has a high incidence and its burden is set to rise. Research by Brennan et al., (2014) indicated that cancer kills more people compared to malaria, AIDS, and TB combined. Clinicians have been at the forefront in the fight against cancer. They have put in place important strategies that have aided them in understanding the extent of cancer during diagnosis which has proven to be an important determinant of the future care plan as well as the patient outcome.

Describing the Approach to Care of Cancer Diagnosis and Staging

The diagnosis of cancer relies on physical examinations, blood tests, biopsies, and diagnostic imaging tests such as CT scans, X-rays, and MRIs. Once an individual has been diagnosed with cancer, the next procedure conducted is cancer staging. The staging process entails categorizing the level of development of cancer. This practice is of great significance since it informs on the therapeutic measures that will be undertaken. The most common staging system used across the globe is the TNM system. This system classifies tumors in relation to their size (T), the degree of metastasis to the regional lymph nodes (N) as well as the degree of metastasis to other body parts (M). In addition to this anatomical approach of staging, the systems may also consider some prognostic aspects such as serum or histology tumor markers.

In the TNM system, the extent of the primary tumor is assessed and assigned a value ranging from T_x, T_0, T_is, T_1, T_2, T3 to T₄ depending on the size of the tumor. The absence or presence of a tumor in regional lymph nodes is assessed and assigned a value of Nx, N0, N1, N2, or N3 in relation to the degree of spread. Distant metastasis, on the other hand, is assessed and values of Mx, M0, and M1 used to denote the extent of metastasis. Staging is an essential step in the process of cancer management. For instance, if the staging is local the interventions that will be effective in its management are radiation or surgery. If the disease has advanced and metastasized to other parts of the body, a process that occurs through the lymphatic and the bloodstream, chemotherapy is considered to be the most effective approach for its management. Most cancers are at stage four which is the most severe whereas some cancers have stage 0 whereby the carcinoma is in situ.

Describing the Approach to Care of Cancer Complications

Usually, cancer is associated with a number of complications that require proper assessment and minimization in the process of caring for individuals suffering from cancer. Pain has been ranked as one of the most common complications of cancer. Generally, pain is classified as somatic pain which localized within a specific region, visceral pain which arises due to an injury to a body organ, and neuropathic pain which arises when the central nervous system is injured. In cancer, the pain arises as a result of the pressure that is exerted on nerves as the tumor grows and spreads into surrounding tissues. The pain can be minimized through the use of analgesics such as ibuprofen or nerve blocking agents that are injected into the nerve or spine. Weight loss is also another common complication that patients with cancer go through. Usually, cancerous cells consume nutrients meant for the growth and maintenance of normal body weight. These cancerous cells are extremely competitive. They deprive essential nutrients of normal cells leading to poor growth. This complication can also arise during cancer treatment. This is because treatment approaches such as chemotherapy can result in side effects such as nausea and vomiting which in turn interfere with the eating habits of patients. Patients with cancer may also suffer from dyspnea, a complication associated with breathing difficulties. A number of several factors cause dyspnea. Some of these factors include hypoxemia, reduced erythrocyte count, obstruction or narrowing of the airway, and anxiety. Dyspnea can, however, be managed through the administration of oxygen to patients, use of lifestyle modifications such as living in well-ventilated buildings, and administration of anti-anxiety agents.

Describing the Approach to Care of Cancer Care plan

For positive outcomes to be achieved in cancer management, effective strategies must be used. Some of the important considerations that can be used in cancer management include early diagnosis and initiation of treatment.  Cancers tend to worsen as they metastasize. It is for this reason that approaches have been designed to focus on preventing the spread of cancers which the aim of stopping the spread and removing cancerous cells. Mostly, cancer patients require holistic care whereby they overcome emotional, physical, psychological, and social challenges associated with the disease (Imran et al., 2016). Provision of care that covers these characteristics generates positive outcomes. Caregivers understand well that cancer is a complex ailment that requires integrated management which involves several medical specialties. Therefore, cancer patients are advised to consider attending health care institutions that provide multidisciplinary services for efficiency. This will avoid incidents of visiting different specialists and receiving fragmented recommendations. The care plan should also perceive patients as unique instead of making assumptions that all patients require similar needs. Therefore, the care plan should integrate the patient’s factors such as emotional health, physical health, age, spirituality, and culture. The care plan should also be patient-centered whereby physicians encourage patients to communicate freely. In addition, the patients’ preferences should be respected, patient education optimized, and engagement of patients and their families in decision-making processes.

Describing the Approach to Care of Cancer and Side effects of Cancer Treatment

Like any other chronic disease, cancer has several side effects that can be categorized generally as either psychological or physical. Some of the physical side effects of cancer include diabetes, infertility or hypothyroidism.  Hypothyroidism which is a condition characterized by the reduction in the secretion of thyroid hormones can arise due to the use of radiation which destroys the thyroid gland. Patients with hypothyroidism manifest with cold intolerance, reduced metabolism, and dry skin. However, hypothyroidism can be managed through the use of agents that stimulate the production of thyroid hormones such as iodine or administration of thyroxin or levothyroxine. Radiation can also cause physical damage to the teeth. This is because high radiation doses towards the neck region can interfere with the enamel exposing the patient to a high risk of developing gum related conditions. Radiation can also kill saliva secretory cells resulting in a condition referred to as xerostomia whereby patients present with dry mouth.

Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone and prednisolone are some of the important agents used in the treatment of cancer. These agents are used in reducing cancer-related inflammation, boosting patient appetite, relieving sickness, and treat cancer itself. However, these steroids trigger an increase in the of blood glucose resulting in diabetes. Patients that develop diabetes are put on an insulin regimen. Infertility arises in some severe cases. Research has proven that chemotherapeutic agents that are alkaline in nature such as cyclophosphamide damage the ovaries. In men, the use of chemotherapeutic drugs such as vinca alkaloid, methyl, and platinum hinders the reproductive system. Fertility preservation can be achieved through the embryo and ovarian tissue freezing.

Cancer treatment can also affect greatly the patients’ memory hindering their cognitive ability resulting in conditions such as amnesia. This may pose a great problem especially among students who may start experiencing learning problems. Fatigue is another common complication results due to chemotherapy and radiation. Even the most active individuals find themselves exhausted.

Patients who undergo surgery to have their lymph nodes removed are predisposed to the risk of developing lymphedema a condition characterized by the accumulation of lymph fluid and may cause pain and swelling. Patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma may also have their spleens removed and hence are at high risk of serious infections since the spleen plays a significant role in the production of essential immune cells.

Chest radiation and chemotherapy can damage the lungs. Some of the drugs that have been reported to cause lung damage include bleomycin, dexamethasone, prednisone, and carmustine (Stewart & Wild, 2015). Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can affect the effective digestion of food. Moreover, radiation and surgery to the abdomen can cause scarring of tissue, long-term pain as well as intestinal problems that may hinder digestion. Some cancer survivors also tend to develop chronic diarrhea which reduces the ability of the body to absorb nutrients.

Describing the Approach to Care of Cancer References

Brennan, M. E., Gormally, J. F., Butow, P., Boyle, F. M., & Spillane, A. J. (2014). Survivorship care plans in cancer: a systematic review of care plan outcomes. British journal of cancer, 111(10), 1899-1908.

Imran, F. S., Andrews, C., Doerner, K., Heatherington, B., Hodes, S., Pictor, N. M., … & Jamshed, S. (2016, January). Survey of cancer survivors’ understanding of their cancer care and follow-up plan. In ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings (Vol. 34, No. 3_suppl, p. 51).

Stewart, B. W. K. P., & Wild, C. P. (2015). World cancer report 2014. World.