1. Many early cancers often are not associated with any pain and often few, if any, clinical symptoms. Discuss why this might be so?
Many individuals who are in their early stages of cancer do not experience any pain because cancer can induce its signs and symptoms. The reason behind this can be the location, size of the cancer. Also, the addition, some cancers will not show signs and symptoms. These diseases, such as pancreatic cancer, are sometimes referred to as "silent." They are often diagnosed at a late stage when the disease is much more difficult to treat or even cure (Cancer Signs and Symptoms Overview, 2013). Furthermore, if cancer is invading location of the body the patient can suffer from pain effect that the cancer can cause depend on the surrounding environment. In such as, bone metastases and prostate cancer that can cause a severe
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Chemotherapy affects the bone marrow, which is the main producer of the white blood cells and platelets. The white blood cells and platelets are most likely to be affected by chemotherapy. Leukopenia, a drop in the white blood cell count means the immune system cannot function properly. In addition, the pros of keeping cancer patients in the hospital during aggressive chemotherapy treatment is the scheduling of drug administration, which is very important. Many studies showed that cancer can develop drug resistance if there are a significant delay between planned courses of chemotherapy (Huether & McCance, p 260). Also, being in the hospital will benefit the patient because the medical staff there to monitor the patient for symptoms and side effects. On the other hand, there is cons to have the patient kept in the hospital like inconvenient. Sometimes when Patient must be admitted to the hospital for chemotherapy, it could be inconvenient to him or his family. Also, it could be expensive as well to be in the hospital and some patient may not be able to afford
Since prevention is the most significant cancer preventing tool, it is essential that cancer be discovered as soon as possible prior to infecting the whole body. The symptoms of cancer will depend based on the location, size, and how greatly it influences the organs or tissues. If a cancer cell has extended over large area of the body, then symptoms will definitely appear in various parts of the body. When a cancer
- Palliative care and lack of it (the patient with torturous pains caused by side effects of full dose rounds of chemotherapy and ovarian cancer did not get the right of controlled analgesia).
Individuals with cancer are predisposed to infection and are at a greatly increased risk for death from infection-related illnesses. In addition to the immunosuppressive effects of the cancer itself, individuals with cancer may be at increase risk for infection due to surgery and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Frequent hospital stays and devices such as indwelling catheters
Geraldine current problems include pain. There are many causes of cancer pain, but often cancer pain occurs when a tumor presses on nerves or body organs or when cancer cells invade bones or body organs. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery also may cause pain. (Melinda R., 2017)
Identification of pain has been the most feared and common symptom of cancer (Sloan, et al. 1999). The joint project that includes primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care were successful in breaking down the barriers that crossed traditional boundaries in cancer care. Steering committee member were identified and meetings took place between multi-professional teams and project coordinators to identify their issues and concerns and communication, discharge, pain management and symptom control were identified. Multidisciplinary groups worked were
The main concern of Mrs R is chronic pain related to bone pain due to bone cancer with metastatic cancer in the liver as evidenced by the presence of verbal and behavioural indicators of pain such as anxiety, concerns and tension, grimacing, complaints when ambulating with a walker and a pain level of 8/10 at 8:00am.
Fear of falling and lost capacity associated with chemotherapy is associated with falls. Niederer et al. (2014) cite that strength, particularly in the lower extremities, tends to alter gait and balance. Also, a common side effect of most chemotherapy treatments is neuropathy. Neuropathy can alter sensation in the lower extremities increasing the risk of a fall. Through these physical changes, oncology patients may become more fearful of ambulating, thus limiting their overall mobility (Niederer et al., 2014).
Due to cancer including over 100 different diseases it can cause almost any type of symptom through both direct and indirect mechanisms. The American Cancer Society lists the following as general symptoms that if persist for a long period of time and worsen, might be indicative of the presence of cancer, unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, pain and skin changes such as itching, excessive hair growth, hyperpigmentation, jaundice and reddened skin. These symptoms, due to their wide variety, aren’t expected to solely lead to an individual diagnosis.
It is perfectly safe to be around other people, including children and pregnant women, when you are having chemotherapy, but you will need to try to avoid contact with people who have infections. This is because your ability to fight infections (your immunity) is not as strong as usual during each chemotherapy cycle. You are most at risk between seven and 14 days after your treatment. Some men choose to avoid very crowded areas during this time to help reduce the risk of getting an infection.
Pain, which is defined in its widest sense as an emotion which is the opposite of pleasure (White, 2004, p.455), is one of the major symptoms of cancer, affecting a majority of sufferers at some point during their condition (De Conno & Caraceni, 1996, p.8). The World Health Organization (WHO, 2009, online) suggests that relief from pain may be achieved in more than 90 percent of patients;
According to Lossignol (2012, p.10) cancer treatment can also result in pain, thus, two major ways to alleviate the pain include considering the aetiology
I realized that I myself have not dealt with a patient who has just found out about a diagnosis of a specific cancer. It was hard to identify with his patient personally in an emotional/physical way. Since I had not dealt with this previously, I tried to put myself in her shoes and to realize and take into consideration everything she was saying. I asked her what it feels like within her body and what her pain characteristics were. She stated “aching and constant pain all over” as an example of how she herself would describe her pain. I also wanted to change any stimuli that may have been a trigger. I decreased the stimulation by closing the blinds, lights, turning the volume down of the TV, helping the patient back to bed, and closing the door (which the patient agreed to and verbalized it was helpful).
TCM believes that the main pathogenesis of cancer is deficiency of vital Qi and the invasion of toxic pathogen, and then lead to a local accumulation of pathological waste products with phlegm coagulation, Qi stagnation, blood stasis, and toxin retention at a later time. Pain in cancer patient may cause by obstruction of Qi and blood. Pain is a common symptom of advanced cancer, when damage of vital Qi and lead to deficiency of vital Qi and blood, tendon-meridian lack of nourish at a later time, “non nourishes lead to pain”. So when Qi stagnation and Blood stasis will be result to “obstruction lead to pain”. In Huangdi Neijing (“The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon”) , this text states: main etiology of pain may arise from cold and heat, main pathogenesis
Treating pain associated with cancer is very complex. Significant factors with the initial intensity of pain are metastasis to the bony area, temporary pain despite administering other pain medications, below the age of 60-year-old and bad result in the (KPS) Karnofsky performance scale (Caraceni & Portenoy, 1999).
Cancer patients who have received chemotherapy treatment, will be affected by cancer related- fatigue. The impact of fatigue on daily functioning, including physical, mental and emotional, behavioral and social, occupational and economic effects. The mental-emotional effects of fatigue results in the need to push themselves to do things, decreased motivation or interest, and feelings of sadness, frustration, or irritability during their experiences with fatigue. Fatigue management can be bed rest and relaxation followed by diet or nutrition, vitamins, and prescription drugs (Christine at.al,