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Nursing Care for Cancer Patients

- Assessment

  1. This is the first step in the nursing process, in which information and data are collected, organized, and analyzed to determine the patient's health condition and identify their problems. This step is continuous and may extend until the end of the nursing process.

Information is divided into:

  • Subjective data: These are symptoms felt by the patient, such as pain, dizziness, nausea, or any complaints they may have.
  • Objective data: These are observable signs, such as fever, skin color, and vital signs.

Sources of information collection:

  1. The patient, who is considered the primary source.
  2. The family or relatives.
  3. Medical and nursing records.
  4. Diagnostic test records.

Methods of information collection:

  1. Patient interview.
  2. Nursing examination (including psychological, social, and physical assessments).
  3. Observation.

Information recorded includes:

  • Reason for the patient’s hospital visit (Chief complaint).
  • Patient's medical history (Past history).
  • Family medical history (Family history).
  • Chronic diseases (HTN, DM, heart disease).

Assessment of signs and symptoms in cancer patients
Patients diagnosed with cancer may suffer from a wide range of signs and symptoms related to the type of cancer diagnosed and the medical treatments they have undergone. Nurses assess these signs and symptoms during the nursing diagnosis phase.