Treatment and Management of Cancer Diagnosis Obligations

Treatment and Management of Cancer

Cancer Diagnosis

Obligations of community health nurse in providing healthcare

Cancer Diagnosis

The high demand for healthcare services, especially to those managing dreadful illnesses such as cancer, there is a dire need to understand the health promotion strategies and also ensure quality lives. Here, is a discussion assisting to analyze how best to improve health and better management of dreaded conditions like diseases such as cancer. Those affected will learn to adopt the right measures that will help to improve functional abilities, and what to practice in case self-care is not an option. The mandate of community health nurses will be scrutinized, to help acquire general knowledge on efficient management of diseases.

Cancer is a disease, which has characteristics of growths that cannot be controlled, and also the abnormality of how rapidly the cells are spread to other organs. Cancers vary in their areas of diagnosis such as breast, throat, lung, brain and many other types. Cancer is caused by many factors, both internal and external. The internal causes include poor immunity conditions, metabolic and inherited mutations and hormones. The external causes include consumption of chemicals, radiations, nicotine inhalation and other organisms that are infectious. The most effective way of controlling the disease is through early detection. Assuming the disease and allowing its development makes it more hazardous to treat, and also has high financial implications (Holtz, 2008).

Mrs. Thomas' condition

Mrs. Thomas was suffering from breast cancer, and at first it was only her right breast that was diagnosed with a malignant mass. A mass in relation to cancer is a lesion, which occupies space in human organs. The masses are defined either by margin or shape. The shapes are either regular or irregular. In case the mass is irregular, there is a high possibility of malignancy. This is what Mrs. Thomas was diagnosed with (Bui & Taira, 2009). Mrs. Thomas underwent mastectomy, which is a process were almost all tissues affected or likely to be affected, are removed. However, this does not assure complete freedom from future risks. Mrs. Thomas underwent the process and five auxiliary lymph nodes were removed. This was consequentially followed suit by chemo and radiation therapy. The two therapies have proven to be more effective when done together, regardless of the one done first. The advantage is that there are high chances of reduced toxic levels and better body reaction to chemotherapy. There is nevertheless a risk that the tumors can develop resistance to therapy (Choy, 2004). Even after the therapies, Mrs. Thomas' BRAC analysis that entails scientific revelations of gene mutation there was still probability that the disease could recur in future.

Evidently, Mrs. Thomas suffered from cancer because of family linage inheritance. Three of her relatives had died at earlier ages due to the same disease. She was also diagnosed with what was described as a pea-sized lump in her left breast. The diagnosis further revealed that the abnormal cells had spread around the lung region. No prescription for surgery was availed, most probably because the risk of death. Her condition of the lungs was also not severe. She was taken through prognosis, where the illness is detected, and there is termination of affected cells. This did not work well for her so she hardly recovered. There was a recommendation for palliative care that entails complete care of patients, whose illness is not responding to treatment meant to cure (Foley & Gelband, 2001).

Mrs. Thomas believed that taking of her vicodin drugs, which are prescribed for cancer patients to relief then from any intense pain and agony, would lead to drug addiction. She had the wrong perception of drugs, and this caused her to undergo throbbing moments. Pain killers have always been the most abused drugs, due to ignorance of the affected victims. The pain led to more disaster as she had to stop her clerical job as a result of the regular trouble. Because this job helped supplement her husband's salary, they ended up experiencing financial constrains, and they had to strain in making ends meet. Fortunately, she had access to disability check. Though she was covered with medical insurance, she was not secured with healthcare insurance. This meant she had difficulty in terms of affordability and access to drugs and general treatment. This condition she was in most likely lead to depression and stress.

Mr. Thomas, her husband was going through tough times because having lived with his wife for over thirty years, he feared that her death would affect him, as they were so used to each other. Thomas was on medication because he suffered from chronic depression. Drugs have been known to causing depression so Thomas must just have had his depression doubled, due to the medication he took. Given the nature of a person in the police profession that requires time and dedication, Thomas found it hard, as he was accountable in taking care of Mrs. Thomas at home. Both their sons were away and had their own families, hence had no time to visit their mother often. Mrs. Thomas was feeling lonely, and lack of company by close relatives worsened her health situation. Her survival probability was acute.

Responsibility of community health nurses

Most citizens of many nations are interested in their health situations. For this reason, community health nurses are available to take care of their interest. Community health nurses are mandated to ensure the community maintains good health standards, and take care of those in diverse health complications, such as Mrs. Thomas, who was a cancer patient with no one watching her well being. Community nurses have a positive perception towards life. Different people perceive things in different ways. A community nurse expects a community with healthy people, who possess sanitary practices of hygiene. The nurse has hope that individuals will maintain high quality lives, which are free from the disease that may lead to high death rates. So when the nurse is subjected to sick people who are or most likely to lose their lives, it has a great impact on them. The nurse feels there are many goals to be accomplished if people still have to die, instead of leading long lives due to good health conditions.

Strategies for improving health and quality of life

a) Improving communication for patient to address experiences

For a message to be sent, there has to be a communication channel. Most of the sick individuals, suffering from dreadful illnesses like cancer have no one to go to and give their experiences and suffering. There is a lot of neglect of the patients, leading to faster deaths. This strategy is aimed at allowing patients access treatment and diagnosis conveniently. In the case of Mrs. Thomas, she had no communication. She only spoke to was the husband and sons through the phone who was full of activity and struggling in addressing the issue. There are some inquiries brought forward that lead to the choice of the communication strategy to be considered whilst dealing with critical situations of sickness such as that of Mrs. Thomas. These questions include whom did she consult in case of pain? Was there a person with medical experience there with her? What was expected in case of an emergency? (King and Hinds, 2011).