The diagnosis of cancer is devastating news to anyone. It is common for people with such a life-threatening illness to have feelings of fear, disbelief, anxiety and depression. The cancer victim’s family, friends and community act as a net of support to lessen the negative impact of the disease and its treatment. These non-medical support systems, executed primarily by family, not only act as medical advocates, they also are the main caretakers of the patient, and they are the ones who bring much inspiration and encouragement to the patient. A cancer victim’s quality of life is positively impacted by family support before, during and after a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Cancer is a dynamic entity, affecting approximately 1.6 million projected new cases in the United States in the year 2014 (NIH). Over the course of a lifetime, women have a 38% chance of getting cancer and men have a 44% chance. Figure 1 reflects the probability of developing invasive cancers during age intervals, comparing the statistics of male verses female. Given these odds, it is imperative to understand how to treat this disease. Doctors, nurses, and their vast staff know what to do medically and have training in the psychological aspects of dealing with the crisis and trauma of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. The emotional, spiritual, and psychological strength of the family of a cancer patient is a major support factor during the cancer diagnosis, duration of treatment and recovery process (Clay). However, it is the family support group that determines a cancer patient’s quality of life.
In terms of cancer treatment and survivorship, quality of life is defined as a “personal sense of well-being encompassing a ...
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The National Cancer Institute articulates the importance of this support to a cancer patient, suggesting, “that having good information and support services can make it easier to cope,” adding, “friends and relatives can be very supportive,” and concluding with the usefulness of support groups (NCI website www.nci.nih.gov).... ... middle of paper ... ... York: Random House, 1991.
This assignment will identify some of the impacts, interventions and outcomes in relation to patient’s quality of life measured against activities of living from Roper, Logan and Tierney.
Over the past decade breast cancer has become one of the most predominant diseases in the United States. Breast cancer starts out as a malignant tumor in the tissues of the breast which is formed from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men. (Stephan, 2010)
In spite of what she has been faced with, she has always had a positive attitude and outlook. She is a woman of strong faith, which I believe has played a big part in getting her through the challenges she has faced. Chronic illness not only affects the patient, but all members of the family as well. For her, it has been a challenge with the expense it has incurred for her. She has health insurance, but some of the medications that she is on are very expensive. In the beginning of her illness, it placed more of a financial strain on her. She was divorced and did not have the best health insurance coverage to begin with. She remarried a couple of years ago and now has better health care insurance through her husband. Not being able to pay for your health care during a difficult time is very hard to deal with. As the nurse, we can offer referrals to agencies that may be able to offer some assistance. Psychosocial care should be incorporated into the routine care of patients with cancer (Jacobsen & Wagner, 2012). Dealing with a chronic illness can also have emotional effects on the patient, as well as other family members. Depression is a commonly incurred condition that coincides with cancer, which can lead to other health and social issues. It is of great importance to provide emotional support to the patient and their family members. As the nurse, we can offer support groups to the patient and
According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer health disparities are defined as the adverse differences between specific populations and the achievement of an optimal state of health. These population groups are categorized by geographic location, income, disability, age, education, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or race. These factors correlate with cancer mortality rates that impact specific population groups in the United States, cancer prevalence is the number of people diagnosed or living with cancer, and cancer incidence which is the number of new cancer cases in a population. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2013, there were an estimated 1,660,290 new cases of cancer and 580,350 of the new cases resulted in mortality. Individuals who have limited access to healthcare, health illiterate, and poverty stricken are more likely to develop cancer. This means a person’s socioeconomic status can determine the likelihood of their probability of developing cancer
Some risk factors cannot be changed such as age, race, and gender. A person 's risk increases as they get older. Approximately 1 out of 8 women are at risk of developing breast cancer are younger than 55. Approximately 2 out of 3 women are at risk of developing breast cancer who are older than 55 (American Cancer Society, 2014). To decrease this rate, women need more timely follow ups and access to high quality treatments (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Men can develop breast cancer, but this disease is more common among women than men. (American Cancer Society, 2015).
To “live as fully and comfortably as possible” is a key phrase in the care and treatment of a patient under hospice care. Hospice care focuses on the comfort and quality of life for a person with a terminal illness. The focus is not on a cure. A hospice care provider wants to help the patient be as pain free and comfortable as they can be, so that they can live the rest of their life as fully as possible. Unfortunately, more often than not, patients with terminal illnesses are viewed to be too frail to participate in occupations (Russell, M., & Bauh-Lampe, A., 20016). It is also true that people facing the end of their life feel helpless or depressed, lose their ability to participate in a lot of the daily activities they once enjoyed, and experience a loss of dignity. (Badger, S., Macleod, R., & Honey, A. 2016). However, with hospice care, many patients are able to find some degree of comfort, safety and control over their lives during their final days.
Stair, J. (1998). Understanding the Challenges for Hospice: Fundamental for the Future. Oncology Issues [Online]. 13(2): pages 22-25. *http://ehostweb6.Epnet.com: (2000, October 13).
Breast and ovarian cancer are the major cause of cancer death in American women, with an estimated 44,190 lives lost (290 men and 43,900 women) in the United States2. Studies revealed that in India, 555,000 national cancer deaths in 2010. 71% cancer deaths occurred in people aged 30-69 years in India. At 30-69 years, the three most common fatal cancers were oral, stomach, and lung in men, and cervical, stomach and breast in women. About 42% of male and 18.3% of female cancer deaths are due to tobacco-related products3.
Wittenberg, E., Saada, A., & Prosser, L. (2013). How illness affects family members: A qualitative interview survey. The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, 6(4), 257-268. doi:10.1007/s40271-013-0030-3
Palliative care involves the holistic care to maintain and improve the quality of life of the patient and family during hospitalisation until the terminal stage. Palliation of care refers to the multidisciplinary approach of providing comfort and support for the terminally ill patient and family, thus has an important role in maintaining and improving the quality of life of the whole family. Chronic illness such as cancer gives a physiologic and emotional burden for the patient and family. Education and counselling of the possible options as well as treatments for pain and other symptoms that could help alleviate anxiety, suffering and discomfort. Palliative care provides assistance for the family as a channel for communication between the
We can see that the hospice concept is a bio-psychosocial approach to the dying process, concerned with biological, psychological, and social health. Because of its proponents, Hospice is considered a more humane and sensible approach to terminal illness, combining care, comfort, and support of family and friends as the individual faces death. Their concern for dignity and fo...
Dr. Merle Mishel is an American, nursing theorist who is accredited with the creation of the uncertainty in illness theory and measurement scale. She holds both a master 's degree in psychiatric nursing and a PhD in social psychology. She has accrued many distinguished awards and honors for her works showcasing her expertise in dealing with psychosocial responses to cancer and chronic illness and also the best interventions to manage the hardship and stress that can accompany uncertainty when it comes to illness. Dr. Mishel, currently she holds a position at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing as a Kenan Professor of Nursing, where she continues her teachings, research and advocating of cancer patients and those with
A quality-adjusted life year (QALYs) is one of the most widely used measures for measuring the quality of life and is used for the assessment of health outcomes. Health is a function of length of life and quality of life (Prieto and Sacristán, 2003) and this measure serves as composite indicator which allows quantity and quality of life in a single ind...