Please provide a non critical response to the following two discussion post. Please include at least one 7th editio

     As a future Family Nurse Practitioner it is important to educate my patients when a diagnosis is made. In regards to a cancer diagnosis, I would start by letting patient know the meaning of cancer.  I would let the patient know that we have cells within us that grows and eventually dies leading to new cells. According to the American Cancer Society (2020), cancer is the abnormal dividing of cells keeps growing and do not die. As the abnormal cells grow out of control, they take up space within the normal cell. This can cause the normal cell to function inadequately.

     Signs and symptoms of cancer are different for many people, depending where the cancer originates from. One may experience fever-like symptoms, fatigue, or weight loss. According to the American Cancer Society (2020), other signs and symptoms of cancer include; swelling or lumps anywhere in the body; thickening or lump in the breast or other parts of the body; pain with no known reason; skin changes; cough or hoarseness that doesn’t go away; unusal bleeding or bruising for no reason; change in bowel habits; pain when passing urine; fever or night sweats; headaches; vision or hearing problems; mouth changes such as sores, bleeding pain or numbness. 

     I would inform my patient that early detection of cancer is key in order to get the proper treatment possible at the early stage of the cancer diagnosis. I would provide educational pamphlet of the disease and refer to cancer survivor group therapy to alleviate any stressor that the patient may have. 

 Reference

National Cancer Institute. Symptoms of Cancer. Cancer.gov.https://www.cancer.gov/aboutcancer/diagnosis-staging/symptoms. Updated May 16, 2019. Accessed November 6, 2020. Retrieved on September 29, 2021 from www.cancer.org. 

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Signs and symptoms are ways the body lets a person know that there is an injury, illness, or disease (NCI. 2020).  Signs such as fever or bleeding can be evaluated by someone else, wherein, symptoms such as pain or fatigue is felt and noticed by the person who has it (NCI. 2020).  So, when cancer is growing in the body, begin to push on nearby organs, and consume majority of the blood supply it causes a person to develop signs/symptoms of fever, fatigue, or even weight loss (NCI, 2020).  In addition, it can cause the immune system to react that will produce some of the same signs/symptoms (NCI. 2020).  We must also educate patients on other warning signs such as (Kumar. 2020):

• Change in bowel or bladder habits sudden onset of loose motion or constipation
• A sore that does not heal
• Unusual bleeding blood when passing stool or urine
• Breast lump or thickening
• Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
• Extreme fever and night sweats that is not responding to medication
• Nagging cough or hoarseness

By, educating patients/families that prevention through a healthy lifestyle by eating plenty of fruit/vegetables, maintaining healthy weight, not smoking, drinking in moderation, exercising, avoiding excessive sun damage, getting immunizations, and regular health screening will help with early detection or minimize risk factors (Kumar. 2020).

Kumar, K. (2020). Understanding cancer. MedicineNet.https://www.medicinenet.com/the_seven_warning_signs_of_cancer/article.htm. Updated August 13, 2020.

National Cancer Institute. Symptoms of Cancer. Cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/symptoms. Updated May 16, 2019. Accessed November 6, 2020.