The effectiveness of healthcare is determined by the understanding and application of knowledge regarding disease detection, treatment, and control. To achieve a patient's total recovery, one must address the risk factors for illnesses as well as the associated problems that arise from disease control. The study examines the major components of cancer in an attempt to identify essential elements in its treatment. As a result, the study discusses cancer diagnosis, staging, and consequences. It again focuses on the effects of cancer treatment on the body and devises techniques to mitigate the damage caused by them. The diagnosis of cancer is a process to establish the presence or absence of malignant tumor after one exhibits its symptoms lasting for a couple of weeks or a screening test suggests so (Emery et al., 2014). The doctor carries out a physical exam and inquires of individual and family history of illnesses to establish the likelihood of a pattern of the cause by genetic makeup. A series of tests follow depending on whether or not the practitioner gets satisfactory results. Tests for diagnosis include laboratory procedures, scans, and minor surgery. The laboratory tests determine the levels of certain substances whose presence or absence may be a sign of cancer. However, lab tests are not conclusive to allow complete diagnosis.
Scans are imaging procedures that involve taking pictures of the inner body parts to enable the doctor to view the presence of a tumor. The photos are taken in different ways:
Ultrasound device waves move from tissue to tissue like echoes that a computer uses to make pictures of body parts inside.
PET scan uses a tracer which a practitioner injects into the body, after which a 3-D pictorial machine shows where the tracer collects. The photos display the working condition of the organs.
MRI has a strong magnet that attaches to the body to make comprehensive pictures of target areas.
The nuclear scan also uses a tracer, which is a radioactive material, but in small quantities. Its injection is through the bloodstream, but it gathers in particular bones or organs. A scanner detects and creates photos of the identified parts on a screen.
CT scan deals with an x-ray machine that links to a computer and displays a series of intricate photos of the organs.
A biopsy is a minor surgical procedure where there is an extraction of a piece of tissue for close examination, which is the confirmatory test for cancer diagnosis (Emery et al., 014). The process commences after a physical examination, or imaging tests present an abnormal region tissue known as a lesion, tumor or mass. One way of biopsy procedure is the use of a specialized needle to withdraw a part of the tumor or lesion. The other way is the use of an endoscope that is a tube, thin and lighted, to insert via a natural opening to the affected area where a specialized equipment is used to remove the cells. Alternatively, a surgeon may remove the whole tumor or part of it.
Cancer Staging
Staging is the determination of the extent and location of a malignant tumor in an individual's body. There are two types of staging: clinical and pathological. The clinical method uses the results of imaging procedures, physical exam and biopsies to estimate the degree of cancer, which helps with identifying the appropriate treatment (Peters et al., 2013. Pathologic staging is the surgical stage of the tumor where findings during the clinical phase and from the surgery give precise details to envisage the prognosis. A staging system describes the tumor size, the tumor grade, and the spread of cancer to close lymph nodes or another part of the body.
The TNM system is the primary staging classification. The T stands for the magnitude of the main tumor, N is for the count of nearby malignant lymph nodes and M, refers to the metastasis of cancer (Peters et al., 2013). Numbers follow each letter detailing cancer as shown:
T (Primary tumor); TX – immeasurable tumor
T0 – absence of the main tumor
T1, T2, T3, T4- Illustrates the size of the tumor, where the higher the number, the larger the tumor
N (Nearby lymph nodes); NX – immeasurable cancer
N0 – absence of cancer
N1, N2, N3 – count of affected lymph nodes. When the number of the affected nodes is high, the more cancerous the lymph nodes.
M (Metastasis); MX – immeasurable metastasis
M0 – no spread of cancer
M1 – spread of cancer to other body parts
Identification of the above values leads to overall grouping into four stages in roman numerals (I – IV). According to Peters et al. (2013), the size or the number of the malignant tumor and the spread to the nearby tissues is lowest in stage one and highest in stage three. Stage four has cancer spreading to further areas of the body.
Apart from the two categories, Peters et al. (2013) outlines that one can explain cancer stage by use of the following terms:
In situ – presence of abnormal cells that may be non-cancerous, but are yet to spread
Localized – no signs of spreading of the cancer
Regional – spread of cancer to close nodes, organs, and tissues
Distant – cancer moving to other parts of the body
Unknown – inadequate data to classify the stage
Complications of Cancer
As stated by Peters et al. (2013, the recurrence of cancer is a critical problem for the tumor survivors. Sometimes after treatment, tiny parts of cancer cells remain in the body that multiplies to create a large tumor. The probability that a tumor can relapse depends on the nature of the primary tumor since some have known patterns of reappearance. The patterns define by where cancer begins, either at the same or close part as the main tumor or elsewhere in the body. The doctor should advise cancer survivors on how to reduce the risk of a relapse.
Metastasis is the spread of cancer to other areas of the body (Peters et al., 2013). It occurs when malignant cell fragments flow in the lymphatic system or bloodstream hence, they travel around the body. Once they settle, new tumors form away from the original one. Every form of cancer can spread subject to its rate of growth, its location and the term of treatment. Intensive tests to establish the spread of cancer are crucial before treatment for the choice of the best method.
Cancer affecting the brain can cause stroke-like symptoms. The tumor enlarges into tissues of the brain; bleeding may occur bringing about symptoms similar to a hemorrhagic stroke. The typical signs are weakness or numbness in parts on one side of the body, speech hindrances, intense headaches, seizure and loss of sight. However, the blood quantity entering the brain cells determines the severity of the symptoms. It is important that the doctor ensures that immediate medical attention to one suffering from a brain tumor to stop the bleeding and avoid the incidence of paralysis.
Paraneoplastic syndrome is the attack of healthy cells by the immune system as it defends the body against cancer. Statistics show that twenty percent of cancer patients experience the syndrome (Peters et al., 2013). The patients have fever, anorexia, cachexia and often sweat at night. When the immune system destroys tumor cells, cytokines are released which bring about the symptom. Drugs to curb the specific symptoms are available while controlling the underlying cancer.
Imbalances in the chemical components of one's body is another complication. It is the presence of too much or less quantity of a substance that assists in body function. Chemicals trigger most body functions; therefore, a difference in the amount can cause adverse effects. For instance, insulin regulates the glucose levels in the body, if there is shortage it may result in diabetes.
Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
The variety of adverse effects arising from cancer treatment depend on the method of treatment; nevertheless, all treatment modes have many similar effects. Due to the intensity of the cancer treatment methods, the body balance destabilizes weakening the immune system. As stated by Syrjala et al. (2014), the consequences could be physical or psychological. The physical effects are pain, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, dehydration, anemia, edema, dysphagia, fluid retention, bleeding, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, hair loss, insomnia, mouth sores and skin reactions. The psychological effects are delirium, temporary dementia, stress, anxiety, and depression.
Methods to Lessen Physical and Psychological effects
Approaches to help cancer survivors manage the stress of the side effects involve either therapy, monitoring, and medication. Therapy could be physical, such as exercising or mental like counseling. Exercise increases metabolic levels allowing quicker detoxification rate of drugs injected during treatment. It helps to strengthen the body after the exhaustion of attending clinics, treating rooms and inpatient admissions. In addition to that, working out relaxes the breathing system enabling better respiration. Again, close monitoring by a medical practitioner as well as members of the family ensures that the individual has a speedy recovery and to take care of any slight complication that needs attention (Syrjala et al., 2014).
Counseling goes a long way in rejuvenating the mental and spiritual state of a patient. Stress management is vital. The training involves ways through which one can invoke relaxation and meditation during periods of anxiousness. Support groups are therapy techniques that offer a forum where cancer survivors and patients engage in discussions about their illnesses for consolation and comfort. Unfortunately, some of the patients sink into depression because of too much stress and at times, pain. To restructure their well-being, they are given anti-depressants to stabilize their mental state and painkillers to control the ache (Syrjala et al., 2014).
References
Emery, J. D., Shaw, K., Williams, B., Mazza, D., Fallon-Ferguson, J., Varlow, M., & Trevena, L. J. (2014). The role of primary care in early detection and follow-up of cancer. Nature reviews Clinical oncology, 11(1), 38-48.
Peters, M. L., Pieters, R. S., Liebmann, J., & Graeber, G. (2013). Staging of Cancer.
Syrjala, K. L., Jensen, M. P., Mendoza, M. E., Yi, J. C., Fisher, H. M., & Keefe, F. J. (2014). Psychological and behavioral approaches to cancer pain management. Journal of clinical oncology, 32(16), 1703-1711.
