CP 16, Cancer Treatments

How many people are effected with fatique with chemotherapy and radiation?

70 - 100%.

What are nursing diagnosis for Radiation Therapy?

Altered skin integrity - alopecia, desquamation, erythema. Fatigue and Fibrosis.

What is nurses key role with patient undergoing chemotherapy and radiation?

Assisting patients with the psychoemotional issues associated with receiving cancer treatment.

What is the nursing management in cancer surgery?

Client and family may be extremely anxious, combining other treatment methods may contribute to complications such as infection, impared wound healing, altered pulmonary or renal function and DVT.

Since risks with cancer are magnified with smoking, what nursing intervention should be performed?

Counsel all patients regarding smoking cessation.

What are the goals of cancer treatment?

Cure, control or palliation.

What is the cancer survivor at risk for?

Developing secondary malignancies, such as leukemia, angiosarcoma and skin cancer.

What do injuries of the intestinal mucosa result in?

Diarrhea, mucositis, anorexia, nausea and vomiting because it is one of themost sensitive tissues to radiation and chemotherapy.

What is Teletherapy?

External beam radiation which is the most common form of radiation treatment delivery. The patient is exposed to radiation from a megavoltage treatment machiene.

When control is the goal what is the purpose of the treatment?

For cancers that cannot be completely eradicated but are responsive to anticancer therapies and can be mainted for long periods with therapy.

What are the side effects of Radiation Therapy?

Gi irritation, chest pain, dysphagia, xerostomia, N/V, diarrhea, bone marrrow associated with anemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.

What are safety precuations for the healthcare time with Radiation Therapy?

Guided by time, distance, and sheilding. Client assigned to a private room. Staff members wear dosimeter badges. Do not assign client to pregnant healthcare worker. Prohibit children from visitng. Limit visits to 30 minutes and distance of 6 ft from source.

What are the different routes for Brachytherapy?

Implanted by needles, seeds, beads or catheters, or adminstered orally for thyroid cancer.

What is Brachytherapy?

Internal radiation treatment, consisting of the implantation or insertion of radioactive materials directly into the tumor or in close proximity adjacent to the tumor.

What is the function of Ionizing radiation?

Interrupts cellular growth by breaking strands of the DNA helix.

What are nursing management of the patient undergoing chemotherapy and radiation?

Interventions to counter the effects of myelosuppression, thrombocytopenia, anemia, nausea and vomiting, anorexia, stomatitis, diarrhea and constipation, mucositis, and skin reactions.

What do chemotherapy and radiation both have the potential to cause?

Irreversible and progressive pulmonary and cardiac toxicities.

How long is the patient after receiving radiation and chemotherapy at risk for late effects?

Months to years after the cessation of therapy and can affect every body system.

What is Myelosuppresion?

One of the most common effects of chemotherapy and to a lesser extent with radiation. It can result in life threatening effects, including infection and hemorrhage.

What is simulation with Radiation?

Part of radiation treatment planning used to determine optimal treatment method by focusing on accurately localizing the tumor and ensuring set up position reproducibility.

What is surgery used for with cancer?

Primary prevention used to eliminate or reduce the risk of cancer development in patients who have underlying conditions that increase their risk of developing cancer.

What can surgery do to the patient with cancer?

Produce a change in body image and function. It can be difficult for the patient to cope with these changes while attempting to maintain usual lifestyle patterns.

What is the purpose of cancer treatment?

Prolong survival time, improve quality of life.

What can surgery be prescribed for with cancer?

Prophylaxis, diagnosis, cure, control, palliation, determination of effectiveness of therapy, and reconstruction.

When palliation is the goal, what is the purpose of the treatment?

Relief or control of symtpoms and the maintenance of a satisfactory quality of life.

What is the objective of surgery with cancer?

Remova all or as much resectable tumor as possible while sparing normal tissue.

What different therapies can be used to treat cancer?

Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal manipulation, immunotherapy, gene therapy, vaccine.

What is nursing management for the patient with radiation therapy?

Teach client to gently wash area each day, use hand instead of wash cloth, rinse soap well, pat dry, protect markings, avoid powders, ointments, lotions, or creams unless prescribed, wear soft clothing, avoid anything that binds, avoid exposure to the sun, avoid exposure to the heat.

What is Radiation?

The emission and distribution of energy through space of a material medium.

What is the purpose of Radiation Therapy?

To destroy cancer cells with minimum destruction of normal cells. Cells die or become unable to divide.

What education should be given to patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation?

Treatment regment, supportive care options (antiemetics and antidiarrheals), and what to expect during the coure of treatment is important to help decrease fear and anxiety, encourage adherence, and guide at home self management.

When cure is the goal what is the purpose of the treamtent?

Treatment that is expected to have the greatest chance of disease eradication and may involve local therapy, alone or in combination with or without periods od adjunctive systemic therapy.

What are examples of Teletherapy?

X-ray and kilovoltage, linear accelerators and betatron machienes,particle beam, and intraoperative radiation therapy.