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 Tx, T0, Tis, T1, T2, 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.
