Nursing Oncology :Cancers of the Gastrointestinal

Summary

This video provides an insightful overview of cancers affecting the gastrointestinal system, including colorectal, pancreatic, and liver cancers. It covers screening methods, risk factors, symptoms, diagnostic tools, and treatments for each cancer type. The video highlights the importance of early detection through tests like colonoscopies and fecal occult blood tests for colorectal cancer. It also emphasizes managing pain and monitoring blood glucose in pancreatic cancer, as well as liver transplant considerations in liver cancer. The content is informative for both nursing students and healthcare professionals seeking to refresh their knowledge.

Takeaways

• 😀 Colorectal cancer screening starts at age 50, with colonoscopies every 10 years unless a polyp is found, requiring more frequent monitoring.
• 😀 Risk factors for colorectal cancer include smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, genetics, and older age.
• 😀 Common symptoms of colorectal cancer include rectal bleeding, changes in bowel patterns, and altered stool color and consistency.
• 😀 A positive fecal occult blood test is a key diagnostic tool for colorectal cancer, along with imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, and colonoscopies.
• 😀 Treatment for colorectal cancer may involve chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, with possible complications like bowel obstruction.
• 😀 Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late, contributing to its high mortality rate, with vague symptoms and poor prognosis.
• 😀 Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include chronic pancreatitis, cirrhosis, diabetes, metastasis from other cancers, and older age.
• 😀 Pain management and blood glucose monitoring are key nursing interventions for pancreatic cancer patients, with palliative care playing a role due to poor prognosis.
• 😀 Liver cancer risks include cirrhosis, older age, male gender, and tobacco use, with diagnostic tools like biopsy and imaging tests.
• 😀 Nursing care for liver cancer patients involves bleeding precautions, monitoring nutrition, encouraging small meals, and managing fluid retention to avoid respiratory complications.

Q & A

What is the recommended screening age for colorectal cancer?

Screening for colorectal cancer typically starts at the age of 50, and it is repeated every 10 years if no abnormalities are found during the initial colonoscopy.

What happens if a patient has a polyp removal during a colonoscopy?

If a patient has a polyp removed during a colonoscopy, they are considered at higher risk for colorectal cancer and will require more frequent screenings, such as a colonoscopy every 5 years or a sigmoidoscopy.

What are the common risk factors for colorectal cancer?

Common risk factors for colorectal cancer include smoking, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, genetics, and older age.

What diagnostic tools are used for colorectal cancer?

Diagnostic tools for colorectal cancer include the fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy, CT scan, MRI, and the gold standard biopsy.

What are some signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer?

Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer include rectal bleeding, changes in bowel patterns, and changes in the color and consistency of stool.

What is the prognosis for pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer has a very high mortality rate because it is often diagnosed in later stages, making its prognosis poor.

What are the risk factors for pancreatic cancer?

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include chronic pancreatitis, cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, metastases from other cancers (such as breast, lung, kidney, and skin cancers), older age, and genetics.

What are some common complications of pancreatic cancer?

Complications of pancreatic cancer include fistulas (breakdown of anastomosis sites), peritonitis (internal leakage of pancreatic fluid), and thromboembolism (due to a hypercoagulable state caused by necrotic products).

What are the nursing care priorities for patients with pancreatic cancer?

Nursing care priorities for pancreatic cancer patients include managing pain, monitoring blood glucose levels, administering insulin as prescribed, managing feeding via a jejunostomy, and monitoring for complications like diarrhea, which may indicate dumping syndrome.

What treatments are available for liver cancer?

Treatments for liver cancer include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hepatic arterial infusion, hepatic artery embolization, ablation procedures, and in some cases, liver transplant surgery.