Cancer Nursing Management
Study online at [Link]/_gxhfr
1.
2.
3.
3 Nursing
Interventions
of N.V
Nutritional support
- No milk, grains, fruits, veg., granolas
- Low Fiber and Residue, High Cal. and Pro.
Fluid/electrolyte replacement
Decrease pungent odors
4 Diarrhea
Tx
Low fiber/residue diet
antidiarrheal medication
Fluid/electrolyte replacement
Skin care - Pericare
Alopecia
Hair Loss
- Radiation-temporary or permanent based on
dose administered
- Chemotherapy-temporary-begins re-growth
3-4 weeks, texture/color changes
Nursing intervention begins at start of
treatment
-Protect head from sunlightwear sunscreen
4.
5.
6.
Alopecia
Teaching
Points
With chemotherapy, within 3-4 weeks after tx,
hair will grow back for sure
With radiation, depending on dose of drugs,
may or may not grow back
Altered Taste
Sensation
Cancer cells release a substance resembling
amino acids that stimulate bitter taste buds
such as metallic, cotton, decreased taste buds,
or total loss of tastebuds.
Anorexia
Warning
Precautions
" I dont feel good or feel like eating"
"I'm too tired to eat"
Tx: Find foods that are Protein/Calorie Dense
within the smallest amount of food (Boost,
Ensure)
7.
8.
Anorexia
with
Treatment
GI effects interfere with appetite
- Monitor Nutrition
- Small frequent meals
- High protein, high calorie
- Nutrition supplement if >5% weight loss
BMS: Anemia
Decreased RBC - takes longer because lifespan
of an RBC is 120 Days
Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microliter (c
Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL
9.
BMS: Anemia
Tx
Procrit - Promotes RBC development
- Hold if HGB is close to normal
Transfuse PRBCs if they have symptoms
10.
BMS: Neutropenia
ANC < 15,000 within 14 days
Most Common chemotherapy side
effect
If decreases <15k, increases chance for
infection
Because Bone marrow is suppressed,
PT may not show typical signs of
infection such as increased temp, sore
throat, or pus
BMS: Neutropenia
Drug Tx
Filgrastim (Neopogen)
Promotes WBC Growth
Call Dr. if Temp exceeds 100.5
BMS:
Thrombocytopenia
PLT Count < 100,000 within 2-3 weeks
PT can start to bleed randomly for no
reason
BMS:
Thrombocytopenia
Tx
Administer PLT Transfusion if pt is
bleeding or if platelet count is <20,000
Administer IL-11 - Promotes PLT
Growth
Cachexia
Extreme stage of anorexia where the
body uses alot of muscle mass to
generate calories just to function. Thus
the pt literally is wasting away infront
of you
Cardiovascular
Chemotherapy
- Chemo damage
Anthracyclines (doxorubicin) highest
cardiotoxicity
ECG changes, left ventricular
dysfunction (< ejection fraction)
Cardiovascular
Radiation
- Radiation damage
Pericardium most common
Preexisting CAD increases
vulnerability
Coping
Management
- Diagnoses can take awhile so anxiety
is common
1) Find out how pt/family is coping
2) Let the pt/family vent
3) Assess for AMS because it can lead
to further sub-stressors such as jobless
18.
Fatigue
Several theories as to cause
Muscle metabolites from breakdown
Cytokine production
Infection, serotonin deregulation
19.
Gerontology
- Increased lifespan=increased CA
population
- Clinical manifestations mistaken to
age-related changes
- Age is not a good predictor of
tolerance to treatment
- Patient choice (Ethical Dilemma)
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
20.
GI Effects
N.V.D
Mucositis
Xerostomia
Anorexia
21.
Malnutrition
- Muscle/Fat depletion
- Increase Protein
- Knowing the height and weight form the
beginning is important for treatment and to
manage nutritional status
- 5% weight loss - Nutritional Supplements
22.
Mucositis
Painful inflammation and ulceration of the
mucous membranes lining the digestive
tract, usually as an adverse effect of
chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment
for cancer.
- Blisters everywhere
28.
29.
24.
Mucositis and
Xerostomia Tx
Nausea and
Vomiting
Reasons/Stages
- Oral care is key with no ETOH
- Dental care prior to treatment
- Avoid temperature extremes
Keep mouth Moist!
Why? Cells grow fastest in the Mucosa/GI
Drug Control is Key! Before and After Tx
-- Acute (within 24 hours of tx)
--Delayed (after 24 hours)
-- Anticipatory (Trigger response)
30.
31.
32.
- Release of serotonin stimulates CTZ
(chemoreceptor trigger zone)
25.
Nursing
Interventions
to manage
Cancer Pain
are?
1) Through Assessment during Each visit
2) Diary
3) Clarify Myths/Misconceptions
- Addiction and Tolerance should not be
issues with cancer pain
- Can happen months to years with the use
of anthracycline drugs
- Where ever the radiation was targeted, the
area/location flares bright red, but not quite
like a rash
Reproductive
Direct radiation Alkylating agents cause the
most issues
Temporary or permanent gonadal failure
- Older women have less damage than
younger women because menses has
stopped = Good
- No repair for ovarian function; lower doses
for testes can result in recovery of sperm
production in 2-5 years = Bad
Dysgeusia - Loss of Taste
Dysphagia - difficulty swallowing
23.
Radiation
Recall
33.
Reproductive
Teaching
Points
1) Family planning before Tx
2) Decrease of elasticity of Vagina for
Women
3) Possible Erectile Dysfunction for men
4) Contraception use during and after tx for
a period of time
Reverse /
Neutropenia
Precautions
- Handwashing
- Masks for all family, pt, and staff
- No fruits, vegetables, live flowers
- Try to not go into too many public places
where there potentially may be alot of sick
people
Skin
reactions:
Chemotherapy
- Ranges from erythema to hand-foot
syndrome (PPE)
- So painful, pt may not be able to walk
- Can be dose/treatment limiting because of
pain
Skin
reactions:
Local
Radiation
- Acute - Chronic (Erythma - Burns)
- Chronic-permanent skin changes such as
darker, coarser, dryer skin
-Prevent infection because of breakdown of
skin
- Protect from extremes of temp and sun
exposure
- Keep moist-institutionally determined
Survivorship
of Cancer
Encourage Assessment routine, usually once
a year followup appointment
1) How are you doing?
2) Are you having any long term side effects
Teaching
Point for
Fatigue
- At one point during Cancer tx, will
experience fatigue
- Still need to be active because it is actually
helpful
- May have to schedule activity plan such as
rest, nap, and active time
Teaching Point: As long as the cancer is
there, pain will be there, so we manage the
pain and the symptoms
26.
27.
Pulmonary
Chemotherapy
Effects
- Chemotherapy effects:
edema (capillary leak syndrome),
pneumonitis
interstitial fibrosis
Pulmonary
Radiation
Effects
Permanent/progressive tissue damage
- Radiation effects (late effects):
pneumonitis
cough
dyspnea
pulmonary edema
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
What is the Nadir
Lowest CBC levels during one treatment cycle
Determined by drugs, doses, size of radiation field, patient condition,
number of treatments received
What is the Primary cause of death in Cancer
Patients?
Infection!
What is the Single greatest Barrier of cancer pain?
Inadequate pain assessment
Where is bone marrow created and what happens
when it is suppressed?
Thighs
Pelvis
Sternum
- Chemotherapy will hit all 3 regardless
Radiation depends if area is radiated
- Decrease in cells responsible for providing immunity, thus increasing
infection chance
- Most common side effect of chemotherapy
40.
Why are 2 reasons Cancer Pain is Under treated?
Fear
Lack of Knowledge
41.
Xerostomia
Radiation induced saliva changes
- Dental issues
- Loss of taste issues
- Decrease Enzymes to digest/Swallow