Palliative care approach to cancer diagnosis, staging, and treatment

Cancer

Under normal circumstances, cells deemed to be normal multiply when the human body needs them. When they are no longer needed, these cells die. However, for an individual with cancer, the growth as well as division of cells tends to be rather abnormal. The death of cancerous cells also differs from that of normal body cells. In this text, I concern myself with cancer. In so doing, I highlight the approach to the care of the disease while describing both its diagnosis and staging. Further, in addition to highlighting a number of complications occasioned by cancer and how they can be treated, I also describe the side effects of treatments. Lastly, with a special emphasis on the psychological/physiological side effects of care, I provide recommendations on the best approaches to handle the said side effects.

The Approach to Care of Cancer

In this section, I will largely limit myself to the palliative care approach. In basic terms, palliative care in the field of medicine is designed to prevent, relieve as well as ease patient suffering. In our context, the relevance of palliative care cannot be overstated when it comes to the control as well as care of cancer. According to Barraclough (2007):

"The palliative care approach has always emphasized the control of pain and other physical symptoms, included families and carers as well as patients, and taken a 'whole-person' perspective that includes the spiritual aspects of illness and dying."

The effectiveness of this approach has got to do with its all inclusive approach to care. This approach hence plays a significant role towards the improvement of the patient's quality of life. Although this approach can be adopted at any stage of the disease, it comes across as being best suited for those at the advanced stage of cancer.

Treatment of Cancer: Complications

To begin with, NCBI (2010) considers spread as one of the complications of cancer. For instance, the disease can spread to the bones where it can occasion serious discomfort as well as pain. Pain can also be considered another complication of cancer. In this case, pain can be as a result of the damage caused by the disease to the affected individual's organ tissue. It is important to note that pain management remains a critical component of cancer management and as White (2005) points out, "pain relief is a complex phenomenon requiring input from various members of the health care team." Emotional as well as mental anguish amongst those suffering from cancer can be considered yet another complication of cancer. Other complications commonly associated with cancer tend to vary with the stage as well as type of tumor (NCBI 2010).

There are a number of treatment options available for cancer patients. The treatment options I highlight in this section include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. In basic terms, the approach used in the treatment of cancer is largely dependent on a number of things. This includes but is not limited to the spread of the disease, the personal characteristics as well as health status of the individual suffering from the same and finally, the type of cancer under consideration.

According to White (2005), "surgery can be classified as curative, palliative, or reconstructive." While curative surgery in the opinion of White (2005) is mainly concerned with the restoration of health, palliative surgery comes in when the possibility of cure is slim. On the other hand, reconstructive surgery concerns itself with function reestablishment (White 2005).

When it comes to radiation therapy, White (2005) points out that the same is used to kill cancer through the utilization of "high-energy ionizing radiation." In terms of usage, this approach to the treatment of cancer comes second after surgery. The last cancer treatment I consider in this case is chemotherapy. In the opinion of White (2005), this approach to the treatment of cancer may be utilized in the cure or prevention of cancer symptoms. In the author's own words, "drugs used in chemotherapy are called antineoplastics because they inhibit the growth and reproduction of malignant cells." In conclusion, it can be noted that in some instances, more than one approach towards the treatment of the disease can be used. This is more so the case in those instances where one treatment option fails to eliminate all the cancer.

The Side Effects of Treatments and Recommendations for Addressing Psychological/Physiological Side Effects of Care

All the cancer treatment approaches I have listed in the section above have side effects. To begin with, NCBI (2010) points out that when it comes to radiation treatment, the side effects of the same are in most cases temporal. Side effects in this case could include skin irritation and throat discomfort. On the other hand, chemotherapy tends to weaken the immune system of the individual undergoing the same (NCBI 2010). Just like other forms of surgery, cancer surgery also has some side effects. These include but they are not limited to fatigue and pain after the procedure.

It is common for those suffering from cancer to experience some level of psychological distress. This is more so the case given the life threatening nature of the disease, treatment challenges as well as recurrence worries. One of the approaches that can be adopted in seeking to address these side effects is cognitive-behavioral-strategies. In the opinion of Yarbro, Vujcik and Gobel (2011), the focus in this case could be "problem-focused or emotion-focused coping strategies." While the former largely concerns itself with helping patients in the management of issues affecting them by seeking to tweak the problem situation, the former is designed to aid the regulation of psychological distress experience (Yarbro, Vujcik and Gobel 2011).

It is also important to note that in an attempt to address these psychological/physiological side effects of care, supportive environments should be provided. In the opinion of Yarbro, Vujcik and Gobel (2011), interventions in this case could concern themselves with the provision of a context that is both neutral and safe for emotions expression.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be noted that cancer affects both the individual suffering from the same as well as his or her family. However, the ability of the individual suffering from cancer to come to terms with the same is largely anchored on not only the treatment he or she receives but also on the level of support extended to him or her by the family.