Cancer is a collection of diseases in which cells start growing out of control, crowding out normal cells in any part of the body, making it difficult for the body to function normally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rank cancer as the second leading killer in the United States. There are many types of cancer depending on their extent of growth and spread as well as the location on the body. The spread of cancer cells is referred to as metastasis. Some cancers are known to grow and spread fast while others spread slowly. Different cancers respond to treatment in different ways. Some cancers respond better to chemotherapy or radiation while others are best treated with surgery (Mayo Clinic, 2018). However, other cancers require two or more treatments for the best results. In the diagnosis of cancer, physicians look for malignant tumors or growths except for leukemia.
Cancer is a life-changing experience to both patients and their loved ones. It can affect people of all ages, classes, cultures, and races. The complications of cancer and side effects of its treatment totally affect a patient’s quality of life. However, cancer can be prevented or survivors’ lives can be prolonged through the adoption of healthy lifestyles, adhering to proper diet and nutrition, and participating in physical activity. An understanding of physical and psychological effects of cancer is necessary for patients, their loved ones, and caregivers for the purposes of fostering better coping and long-term recovery process.
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Cancer Diagnosis
An early cancer diagnosis is necessary to ensure the best chance for cure. Detection of cancer can be done through routine screening or upon discovery of some symptom. Notable cancer symptoms include abnormal tumors or growths in anywhere in the body, unexplained pain, jaundice, changes in bowel behavior, sores that do not heal, white patches inside the mouth, unusual bleeding, skin changes, indigestion, and voice alterations (American Cancer Society, 2018). Additional symptoms are such as poor body coordination, anemia, fatigue, changes in bladder function, seizure, unexplained weight loss, breathlessness, and hematuria, among others. Upon realization of any of such symptoms, it is very important to seek cancer diagnosis through screening.
Cancer screening approaches include physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging tests, and biopsy. In physical examination, a physician feels areas of one’s body to check for the presence of lumps as an indicator for a tumor and looks for abnormalities such as organ enlargement or skin color changes. Urine and complete blood count tests can be carried out during lab examination to check for abnormalities. Imaging tests are noninvasive measures conducted to examine bones and internal organs and they include computerized tomography (CT) scan, ultrasound, X-ray, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging, among others (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Ultimately, a doctor will perform a biopsy which involves taking cell samples for testing in the laboratory. A biopsy is the only definite way to diagnose cancer and its procedure is dependent on the cancer type and its location.
Staging of Cancer
Staging is cancer’s level of spread at the time of diagnosis. Determination of the stage of one’s cancer will open the way for optimal therapy, treatment options, and prognosis assessment. Imaging tests are among the staging tests and procedures done to establish if cancer has spread to other body parts. In many cancers, the size of the primary tumor and spread to adjacent lymph nodes and other parts determine the stage (Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2018). Cancer is classified according to the number of different staging systems. In the analysis of trends over time, a system of summary staging is adopted for statistical and descriptive analysis of tumor registry data. The stage is said to be in situ if the cancer cells are found only in the original cells of development without having spread. However, if cancer has spread beyond the original cell tissues, then the cancer is labeled as local, regional, or distant with respect to the extent of spread.
TNM is another staging system which examines cancer growth and spread according to the size of the primary tumor (T), absence or presence of regional lymph node involvement (N), or presence or absence of metastases (M). The categorization assigns cancer stages as 0, I, II, III, or IV. Stage 0 represents in situ stage, stage I is the early stage, while stage IV is the most advanced stage (Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2018). The TNM system is accredited by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), and the International Union against Cancer (UICC). With advancement in cancer biology, other tumor-specific features have been integrated for staging and treatment interventions of some cancers.
Complications and Side Effects of Treatment
Critical cancer complications include emergencies related to malignancy, metastasis, anticancer therapy, and paraneoplastic process. These emergencies can be life-threatening many at times, hence should be accorded sufficient attention and care not to cause permanent injuries. These complications cause cancer patients excessive pain and depression. Pain occurs especially when outgrown cancerous cells cause pressure and injure nerves in adjacent tissues. Pain can be relieved through the use of opioids and other pain medication interventions. Metastasis of cancer to main organs such as the lungs, brain, liver, or bones is a critical complication of concern to all cancer patients as it is life-threatening. Metastasis is treatable through chemotherapy, surgery or radiation or a combination of all. The fatal nature of cancer leads to build up of depression among patients and survivors.
Cancer and cancer treatment causes adverse effects to healthy tissues and organs thus affecting the quality of life of the patients. Radiation therapy can lead to side effects such as mouth and throat problems, loss of appetite and taste, delirium, skin and nail changes, musculoskeletal problems, and voice alterations (American Cancer Society, 2018). Chemotherapy causes mood changes, nausea and vomiting, dehydration, fertility problems, hair loss, constipation, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, and fatigue. Surgery can lead to infection and neutropenia, anemia, lymphedema, seizures, swelling, and cognitive impairment. Other common side effects of cancer treatment include fertility side effects and sexual dysfunction, urinary and bladder problems, pain, and sleep problems (National Cancer Institute, 2018).
Methods to Lessen Physical and Psychological Effects
Physical effects such as fatigue, change in appetite, pain, changes in body image, sexual dysfunction, fertility, and sleeping problems can be quite distressful if not properly managed. To lessen fatigue and sleeping problems, physical activity, avoiding daytime naps, keeping a routine and plan for everyday activities as well as using relaxation techniques can be very resourceful (Cancer Council Victoria, 2016). Professional counseling is a key intervention in managing and reducing physical effects such as fertility, sexual dysfunctions, change in body image, loss of appetite, and pain. Changes in appetite can be addressed by eating smaller quantities of well-balanced diets to facilitate energy and maintain health. Changing body image lowers self-esteem and is a major stressor for cancer patients and survivors. To minimize these effects, patients can participate in Look Good Feel Better program that guides on skin care, use of hats and wigs, and adaptability to change in body appearance (Cancer Council Victoria, 2016). Self-confidence can also be fostered if patients and survivors engage in activities they enjoy such as sports, music, craft, etc. Loss of sexual interest and fertility can be a great concern for victims of cancer. Professional counseling on matters sexuality, intimacy and fertility can be fruitful in addressing concerns and guiding on available options to fertility preservation.
Addressing psychological effects requires a utilization of intrapersonal, interpersonal, informational, and tangible resources (Stein, Syrjala, & Andrykowski, 2008). Intrapersonal resources involve the internal, personal properties. The presence of such properties such as general tendencies to act or think in certain ways may yield better coping while their absence may lead to poorer outcomes. Intrapersonal characteristics that may lead to better coping include optimism, emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, and spirituality. On the other hand, interpersonal resources refer to social support. When cancer patients and survivors are subjected to a supportive social environment which fosters cognitive and emotional acknowledgment and appreciation of one’s experience, better coping with is achievable.
Further, access to accurate and understandable informational resources regarding the disease, treatment interventions, prognosis, treatment side effects, and available community support services is associated with better coping and appropriate expectations about long-term recovery. Finally, tangible resources for cancer patients and survivors include access to professional psychological support services such as from licensed social workers and therapists, formal navigator systems, support groups, or informal peer-to-peer networks (Stein, Syrjala, & Andrykowski, 2008). Moreover, access to educational, vocational retraining, and housekeeping and personal assistance resources can facilitate better coping with cancer burden and stress thereby reducing the risk for psychological long-term effects.
Psychological side effects can be minimized through making healthy lifestyle choices such as rest, nutrition, exercise and private time. Additionally, seeking individual, couple, family or group therapy and adopting mind-body techniques such as energy therapies, laughter therapies, relaxation therapies, and stress management interventions, and avoiding stressors can prove beneficial. Integration of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) interventions have been found to effectively treat anxiety, breathlessness, and other psychological disorders leading to better coping with cancer burden (Park, 2012). Examples of CAM interventions helpful for cancer patients and survivors include acupuncture, yoga, massage, hypnosis, meditation, and relaxation techniques (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Furthermore, religious coping through engaging in a religious community, prayer, and religious activities can provide emotional support.
References
American Cancer Society. (2018). Managing cancer-related side effects. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects.html
American Cancer Society. (2018). Signs and symptoms of cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/signs-and-symptoms-of-cancer.html
Cancer Council Victoria. (2016, January 1). Physical effects of cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancervic.org.au/living-with-cancer/emotions/physical-effects
Mayo Clinic. (2018). Cancer - Diagnosis and treatment. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370594
Mosher, C. E., Ott, M. A., Hanna, N., Jalal, S. I., & Champion, V. L. (2014). Coping with physical and psychological symptoms: a qualitative study of advanced lung cancer patients and their family caregivers. Supportive Care in Cancer , 23 (7), 2053-2060. doi:10.1007/s00520-014-2566-8
National Cancer Institute. (2018, August 9). Side effects of cancer treatment. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects
Park, C. (2012). Mind-body CAM interventions: Current status and considerations for integration into clinical health psychology. Journal of Clinical Psychology , 69 (1), 45-63. doi:10.1002/jclp.21910
Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D., & Jemal, A. (2018). Cancer statistics, 2018. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians , 68 (1), 7-30. doi:10.3322/caac.21442
Stein, K. D., Syrjala, K. L., & Andrykowski, M. A. (2008). Physical and psychological long-term and late effects of cancer. Cancer , 112 (S11), 2577-2592. doi:10.1002/cncr.23448
