Effective Cancer Symptoms Management - Essay Example

? Effective cancer symptoms management affiliation Effective cancer symptoms management Planning, implementation and evaluation of change in symptom management Over the years cancer has been evolving as a disease. This obviously leads to it becoming more resistant to over used symptom management systems. This makes health organizations and health bodies to come up with new symptom management programs which will tackle the evolving disease. Chiu, et al. (2001) indicate that the change in symptom management has the most significant importance in breast cancer treatment. Additionally, the change in symptom management programs applies the use of technology to detect and to deal with breast cancer symptoms. Apart from technology, specialization is also applied in the novel symptoms management programs. Pain, anxiety and fatigue are the common challenges faced by cancer patients. For their urge to get relief, patients seek alternative modes of therapies apart from their normal medical procedures. These numbers of patients make to about 90% of all cancer patients (Jemal, et al., 2008). This is a clear indication that a comprehensive cancer symptom management programs need to be established. One of the most important symptom management changes is the art therapy. The art therapy is not only for patients and their families, but also the general public. This is simply a clinical intervention of therapy which creates awareness about cancer. Additionally, it creates the belief that art nourishes ones health and strengthens ones life. Mainly, art therapy deals with the creation of awareness and expression of patients’ deepest emotions (Shaw, 2011). In the case of breast cancer, an expression of an individual emotion is very important. Breast cancer can be demoralizing and the best way to create the feeling of self appreciation is by expressing one’s feelings. The realization of these feelings is not usually done through verbal interaction but physical and social interaction. The art therapy makes therapy of breast cancer patients who are not fond of verbal therapy and physiotherapy very unproblematic and comfortable (Judith, 2001). Art as a therapy has several steps of evaluation and implementation. First a participant in this case a patient, is taken from the inpatient unit hospital. He is transferred to an urban medical centre for a period of four months. The patient should be above the age of eighteen, communicate in English and have the ability to have an hour session on art therapy. The following breast cancer symptoms are studied during art therapy: pain, tiredness, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, lack of appetite and shortage of breath. Two instruments are used in the art therapy: the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the State Trait Anxiety Index (STAIS-S). These two instruments are used in the study and analysis of the breast cancer symptoms. The ESAS is an instrument which is used in the symptom assessment of palliative care. The measurement is done on a numerical scale which runs from 0-10. The patient under study picks the number which he feels is the level of improvement in the giving of palliative care. Zero stands for the worst and ten for the best level. The STAI-S is used mainly in measurement of anxiety in adults. It gives the determination on whether the anxiety is long term or conditional. Apart from the two instruments, the patient is asked three open ended questions which give a more proper outlook of the therapy. The questions in this case include; would you undertake art therapy again if given the opportunity? , did you experience any change caused by the art therapy and did you find art therapy comfortable? The art therapist would then take on the patients through the necessary steps. The art therapist should be licensed by the government. The therapist acts as a helper to the patient. He also picks the media the patient is exposed to. Additionally, he drafts the course of the program. Patients take part in activities such as drawing and painting. In instances where the patient’s arm may be too weak to draw or paint, the therapist does it for him but from instructions from the patient. This keeps the therapist on a subsequent follow up on the patient’s mental abilities. During the exercises the therapist verbally encourages the patient. After the exercise the therapist asks the patient his imaginative and emotional experiences during the exercise. After the session, the therapist is encouraged to leave materials for the patient to carry out exercises on his own. Apart from the limitation that the therapy only provides short time analysis of symptoms, art therapy is a very effective method of symptom management. Breast cancer patients need more than medical care t help them tackle the disease (Lynda, 2000). Art therapy provides the best alternative to deal and analyze symptoms among patients. The implementation process is vital in the case of managing pain in the breast cancer patients. Planning would indeed not be beneficial if the policies and measures put in place are not implemented. Implementation, in a broad sense entails the aspects of collection of data and putting the plan set into perspective. The first step of implementation, in this case refers to the ability by the health practitioners to adhere to the set rules and standards regarding the therapy to the patients. In the context of the patient with breast cancer, the health practitioners must always be present to offer help whenever called upon by the doctors (Booth, 2006). Additionally, all the health practitioners must engage in the setting up of goals to be met in the course of duty, which relates to early detection of symptoms in the patients and communicating to the relevant health practitioners, for a collective responsibility in delivering effective healthcare to the breast cancer patients. With the changing healthcare systems, pain management must be well scrutinized, so as to develop an efficient system that will allow for effective institution of a cancer management plant, for efficiency and effective healthcare system. Role of the practitioner in symptom management With the increase in the number of breast cancer patients, the role of the health practitioners is indeed required for successful reduction of the situation of the breast cancer patients getting worse. In relation to the work complied by Anvik, et al., (2005) it is the primary responsibility of the health practitioners to ensure that all procedures that pertain to breast cancer starting from the screening to diagnosis are performed with a lot of caution, despite the background of the patient. Additionally, Wood, et al. (2006) hold the perception that successful treatment of breast cancer is only possible through active incorporation of health practitioners in all aspects of care fro breast cancer patients. In as much the role of the general practitioner may be a bit minimal, it is of essence that they act on good will once called upon to assist in administering diagnosis on the breast cancer patient. First, the healthcare practitioner is of great importance through communication on the symptoms that the patient may be portraying. Specifically, the general practitioner is the first hand contact with the patient in the healthcare setting. With their roles of directing medical appointments, they are able to get information on the symptoms the patient is faced with, as well as interpretation of the results to the breast cancer patients. A combination of all these details on the patient, the role of the practitioner in symptom management is to communicate on the status of the patient making it easier for the multi-professional team to collaborate in alleviating the symptoms. After diagnosis of new symptoms, the health practitioner plays the role of offering support and counselling services on the breast cancer patients. Counselling, according to Mikalsen, Anvik & Holtedahl (2006) allows the health practitioner adjust to their new status whilst dealing with the treatment and assessment of breast cancer. This is in line with the professional practice and collaborative efforts on the multi-professional team while dealing with the menace. Additionally, in the course of managing the breast cancer symptoms, the health practitioners play the role of advisors on the breast cancer patients especially when fresh symptoms are detected in the patients, for instance, queasiness, vomiting amongst others. Constant monitoring by the health practitioner allows them monitor the progress of the patient in the course of treatment. The health practitioners play the role of carrying out follow up activity upon discovering the symptoms they may be having. Research conducted by Thompson, et al. (2006) indicates an on going follow-up on the progress of the breast cancer patients has led to a high number of patients surviving and living healthily with the ailment. The major role of professional practice is to ensure that the patients lead a healthy life, a role that is performed by the heath practitioner in dealing with symptom management. In relation to analysis of the role of the health practitioner in symptom management considering the implication for the professional practice and the multi-professional team, the health practitioners aid in solving the daily health issues that arise in the new developments that come along with the treatment of breast cancer patients. Anvik, et al., (2005) emphasize the fact that radical changes are taking place in the field; advice in this context will be beneficial in dealing with breast cancer patients. In the context of symptom management, health practitioners are in a position to deal with the psychological status of the patient, as well as to the relation members of the patient, who also need to be integrated in the healthcare proviso. The fear that the illness may constantly reappear, is to a great degree lessened by the health practitioners through psychotherapy of the patients. For instance, in the case when the patients display attributes of loss of weight and insomnia, the general practitioners are called upon to offer speedy help to the patients (Booth, 2006). Health practitioners play a very important role in the symptom supervision in cancer patients, a fact that coincides with the study carried out by Walsh & Cowan (2001). Effective symptom management by health practitioners positively implicates the entire certified custom of nursing and makes the job of the multi-professional team, a mutual and a trouble-free task. Effectiveness of symptom management Breast cancer patients have a myriad of needs that have to be met by the health practitioners. These needs range from medical needs to therapy needs. Apart from the two, social needs are also very important during recovery. Stigmatization is usually the worst enemy of breast cancer patients. The patients need to feel accepted and appreciated by the society. Due to these needs, the symptom management programs have been established. These programs cover symptoms from all angles, from medical needs, to social and even therapy. However, not all symptom management programs are effective; thus, an evaluation on all applicable programs should be done. The evaluation tends to pick out the most effective symptom management programs. Effective programs should also cover home health care. This means that breast cancer patients should be allocated a medical practitioner at their homes. This allows closer monitoring and administering of drugs. Apart from the medical care, patients should be helped in carrying out daily activities in their homes as well as be exempted from tiresome chores. For this to be possible, they need helpers in their homes a service that an effective symptom management program should be able to provide. The effects of home based care are very significant. Many patients opt for home treatments as this gives them the confidence and the comfort they want. According to Nagi (2012) patients who undergo the home based care, show significant positive change psychologically and medically. Another application of effective symptom management is the use of yoga therapy used. Yoga has many positive effects towards breast cancer patients. The application and treatment of yoga is usually done before the patient gets down to chemotherapy. Yoga helps patient to relax while taking medication (Melissa & Ann, 2007). Apart from its medical purpose, yoga clears the minds of patients; thus, helping them to relax and make wise decisions. The effectiveness of yoga can indeed not be underestimated. Over the years, many breast cancer patients have been subjected to yoga, and a great percentage of them have clearly responded to yoga as a medication tool. It is a clear assumption that all effective symptom management programs must have the application of yoga in them. One of the most effective ways to tackle symptoms associated with breast cancer is the art therapy. This is an inclusion of the patients’ needs, both medical and therapy. The therapy relaxes the minds of patients and at the same time provides an analysis of the patients’ health. Most of all, at therapy also creates public awareness of breast cancer. This clearly builds the confidence of the public in dealing with breast cancer patients. This also reduces and eradicates stigma towards the patients. Stigma still posing as the worst enemy of recovery for patients, all symptom management programs should be able to provide public education and do away with stigmatization. As much as there are effective programs build to tackle breast cancer symptoms, they are not effective enough to deal with issues like Arm Edema. This complication reduces the life expectancy of breast cancer patients. It is researched that Arm Edema is an ordinary difficulty of breast cancer therapy that can cause functional injury and psychological morbidity. The risk of Arm Edema rises as the axillary dissection and axillary radiation therapy is being carried out. To reduce its effects, the patients’ affected are very much requested to avoid trauma (William & William, 2007). Additionally, activities like exercise and massages can greatly reduce its effects. Arm Edema is becoming a more familiar scenario that breast cancer survivors have to deal with. This should be a challenge to health bodies to come up with more effective symptom management programs that will dilute the effects of Arm Edema. In other scenarios, there is the use of marijuana as a form of medication for breast cancer patients. The chemical component, THC, of marijuana, reduces the effects caused by cancer. However, a prescription of its usage should be obtained from a medical professional. The use of marijuana may not be the most effective method of symptom management, but it surely solves and addresses the patients’ needs. Some of the functions of marijuana include: it reduces nausea and loss of appetite which are post chemo effects. With a determination of n optimum dose, this is the fastest way in dealing with breast cancer symptoms. It also reduces pain and reduces the size of any tumours caused by cancer. Breast cancer symptoms are very delicate and numerous. This means that a very effective program should be developed to save the lives of breast cancer victims. A program cannot be 100% effective but it should be able to deal with important issues and symptoms. The only thing that stands in the way of recovery from breast cancer is an effective program (Karen, 2004). Conclusively, managing pain symptoms of a patient suffering from breast cancer is vital in the treatment and survival of these patients (Rietman, et al., 2004). With the increase in cancer patients globally, it if great importance that the health practitioners endeavour to come up with measures that aid in dealing with pain in the cancer patients. Managing pain symptoms among the cancer patients has over the years been a concern for most health practitioners. As indicated above, failure to manage pain among the breast cancer patients would lead to severity of the symptoms that would ultimately lead to earlier deaths of the patients. Studies indicate that a great percentage of the breast cancer deaths result from the fact that symptom management was poorly done by the heath practitioners (Jemal, et al., 2008). Inability of the staff to create time for manage the symptoms, as well as assess the pain symptoms, has led to adverse effects on patients who had the potential of surviving with the disease. In light to this argument, it is warranted to argue that effective management of symptoms among breast cancer patients would not only lead to the survival of the breast cancer patients, but also lead to a collaborative professional effort in eliminating the killer disease among the patients. References Anvik, et al., 2005, Do cancer patients benefit from short-term contact with a general practitioner following cancer treatment? A Randomised, controlled study. Support Care Cancer, 2005, 13:949-956. Booth, S., 2006, Palliative care consultations in advanced breast cancer. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chiu, et al., 2001, Sedation for refractory symptoms of terminal cancer patients in Taiwan. Journal of Pain & Symptom Management 2001; 21:467-472. Jemal, et al., 2008, Cancer Statistics, CA. 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