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family through a wide range of physical, emotional, social,
cultural and spiritual crises.
Epidemiology of cancer
Although cancer affects people of all ages, most cancers occur
in people older than 65 years of age. Overall, the incidence
of cancer is higher in men than in women and higher in
industrialised sectors and nations. Cancer remains the leading
cause of death in Australia accounting for 28% of all deaths.
In 2005 there were 100,514 new cases diagnosed, the first time
this figure has reached six figures. The estimated five most
common cancers diagnosed in Australia in 2012 were prostate
Cancer
is not a single disease with a single cause; rather, it
is a group of distinct diseases with different causes, manifes-
tations, treatments and prognoses. Cancer nursing practice
covers all age groups and nursing specialties and is carried out
in a variety of healthcare settings, including the home, the
community, acute care institutions and rehabilitation centres.
The scope, responsibilities and goals of cancer nursing, also
called
oncology
nursing, are as diverse and complex as those
of any nursing specialty. Nurses need to identify their own
reactions to cancer and set realistic goals to meet the chal-
lenges inherent in caring for patients with cancer because
many people associate cancer with pain and death. In addition,
the cancer nurse must be prepared to support the patient and
K E Y T E R M S
alopecia
anaplasia
apoptosis
benign
biological response
modifier (BRM) therapy
biopsy
brachytherapy
cancer
carcinogenesis
chemotherapy
control
cure
cytokines
dysplasia
extravasation
grading
graft-versus-host disease
(GVHD)
hyperplasia
malignant
metaplasia
metastasis
myelosuppression
nadir
neoplasia
neutropenia
oncology
palliation
radiation therapy
staging
stomatitis
targeted therapies
thrombocytopenia
tumour-specific antigen
(TSA)
vesicant
xerostomia
L E A R N I N G O B J E C T I V E S
On completion of this chapter, you should be
able to:
1
Compare the structure and function of the normal cell and
the cancer cell
2
Differentiate between benign and malignant tumours
3
Identify agents and factors that have been found to be
carcinogenic
4
Describe the significance of health education and
preventive care in decreasing the incidence of cancer
5
Differentiate between the purposes of surgical procedures
used in cancer treatment, diagnosis, prophylaxis, palliation
and reconstruction
6
Describe the roles of surgery, radiation therapy,
chemotherapy, targeted therapy, haemopoetical stem cell
transplantation and other therapies in treating cancer
7
Describe the special nursing needs of patients receiving
chemotherapy
8
Describe the nursing care of patients with cancer using
the nursing process
9
Identify potential complications for the patient with cancer
and discuss associated nursing care
10
Describe the concept of palliative care in providing care
for patients with advanced cancer
11
Discuss the role of the nurse in the assessment and
management of common oncological emergencies.
Oncology: Nursing
management in
cancer care
Chapter
11
