Cancer Facts and Figures, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Cancer is defined as a group of diseased cells that cause the body to change or grow out of control (American Cancer Society, 2011). Most types of cancer will lump together or form a tumor.

The Stages of Cancer

The stages of cancer are determined by the way in which the cancer has spread at the time of its diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, the stage is also based upon the tumor’s size and location and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body (   ). When staging cancer, doctors consider three factors: size of the tumor, lymph node involvement, and disease in other organs of the body. After determining all these factors, the cancer is assigned a stage: I, II, III, and IV. Stage I is the earliest and stage IV is the most advanced. Typically, there are no signs or symptoms of breast cancer. The lump is usually painless; however, there are some common signs like swelling, warmth, redness, or darkness in the size and shape of the breast. One may also experience dimpling or puckering of the skin, itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple area. Some may even experience a discharge or a pain in one spot that will not cease (Curry, Byers, & Hewitt, 2003).

Stage I cancer is diagnosed when the tumor measures up to 2 cm and no lymph nodes are infected. During this stage, the cancer cells have just started to invade the tissue outside the duct. The invading cells cannot measure more than 1mm (American Cancer Society, 2007).

Stage II is divided into two subcategories: IIA and IIB. IIA  In this stage, cancer has not been found in the breast, but in the lymph nodes of the patient’s underarm or the tumor is 2 cm or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes. During this stage the tumor may also be larger than 2 cm but not larger than 5 cm and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes (American Cancer Society, 2007).

Stage IIB is diagnosed when the tumor is larger than 2 cm but no larger than 5 cm and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes or the tumor is larger than 5 cm but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes (American Cancer Society, 2011).

Stage III is divided into subcategories as well: IIIA, IIIB, and IIIV.  In stage IIIA is diagnosed when no tumor is found, but cancer is found in the lymph nodes and has clumped together or cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes near the breastbone and are clumped together on other structures (American Cancer Society, 2007).

Stage IIIB is diagnosed when cancer is any size that has spread to the chest wall or skin of the breast to the axillary nodes. The cancer may have clumped together and began sticking to other structures. Inflammatory breast cancer is a common IIIB stage cancer. The breast will typically be red over a large portion of the skin, it may feel warm or swollen, and the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and may be found on the skin (American Cancer Society, 2007).

Stage IIIC is diagnoses when there is no sign of cancer in the breast or if there is no tumor. It may also be any size and may spread to the chest wall or the skin of the breast and it has spread to the lymph nodes above the collarbone (American Cancer Society, 2007).

Stage IV is diagnosed when the cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other organs of the body such as the liver, brain, skin, lungs, and bones. The cancer is then termed advanced or metastatic. Cancer may be diagnosed as stage IV on the first diagnosis if it is a recurrent of a previous cancer diagnosis or if it went undetected for a period of time (American Cancer Society, 2007).

Treatment Options

The treatment options are determined by the size, rate of growth, and other characteristics of the tumor (Curry, Byers, & Hewitt, 2003). Surgery, drugs, radiation, or immuetherapy may be included in treatment. In most cases of a stage I diagnosis, surgical removal provides the largest benefit because at this stage, surgery alone is capable of providing a cure. To help produce the likelihood of success, several rounds of chemotherapy are often used. Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill the cancer cells or stop them from growing (Curry, Byers, & Hewitt, 2003). According to statistics, people with 92 percent of people with any form of cancer are treated with chemotherapy at some point during their treatment (Curry, Byers, & Hewitt, 2003).  About half of the people with a cancer diagnosis use some form of radiation treatment (Curry, Byers, & Hewitt, 2003). Radiation therapy is also known as x-ray therapy, irradiation because the therapy involves the use of x-ray waves to destroy the cancer cells.

Psychological and Emotional Effects

Being diagnosed with cancer can have a negative impact on the psychological and emotional well-being of a person (Barg& Gullatte, 2001). 20-25 percent of people who have been diagnosed with any form of cancer reported being depressed. About 30 percent reported having higher levels of physical pain after being diagnosed (Barg& Gullatte, 2001). A person who is depressed is 13 percent more likely to commit suicide than a person who is not regardless to illness (Barg& Gullatte, 2001). According to Fall, Holder, & Marquis, cancer patients who are depressed and have accompanying physical illness have a higher rate of death, longer hospital time, and chronic disability (Fall, Holder, & Marquis, 2004). Researchers have found something that they call the “fighting spirit”.  People who display that “fighting spirit” at the initial diagnosis of cancer have a higher rate of returning to a disease free life than those who react to diagnosis with a hopeless attitude (Fall, Holder, & Marquis, 2004   ). For example:

“Maintaining a fighting spirit and possessing a continual sense of hope to cope with the illness trajectory is essential to survival among women diagnosed with breast cancer (Landmark & Strandmark, 2001). For many of these women, family members are dependent on them, which contributes to their motivation to get better and stay focused on survival. In addition, helping others may help to increase a positive attitude and frame of mind” (Fall, Holder, & Marquis, 2004    ).

Spirituality

Spirituality plays a great part in the process of coping with a cancer diagnosis. In a study that was conducted on a group of African American women who were diagnosed with cancer, researchers found that spirituality was defined as “faith in an omnipotent force”. The women believed that due to their faith in God, they would be healed. Yet, they maintained an attitude of if they died, it was his will. Many researchers coined this as a will to live attitude. However, the women’s attitude towards death or dying is what willed them to live. Of this group, 89 percent survived by total eradication of the cancer or remission (Gibbs& Fuery, 1994). This study also found that African American women were less likely to seek treatment for mental health issues. The women seemed to minimize the effects or symptoms and referred to them as just having the blues (Gibbs & Fuery, 1994).

Support Networks

Having a support network is very beneficial for people who have been given a cancer diagnosis. Gibbs and Fuery suggested that African American women had a low rate of seeking mental health counseling because they had the support of their families. They used this support as an alternative coping method (Gibbs & Fuery, 1994   ). One of the main alternatives to professional counseling was seeking the advice of a minster or members of a faith group.

Complications

Nausea and vomiting are common complication of cancer. Between 20-30 percent of people diagnosed with cancer report having nausea and vomiting. The number rises traumatically for patients who have advanced stages because 70 percent of them report nausea and vomiting. Fatigue is another complication of cancer. Fatigue is defined as a reduced capacity to sustain force or power output leading to lack of energy and endurance (Curry, Byers, & Hewitt, 2003). Fatigue is reported in82 percent of people with cancer diagnosis. People who are fatigued also report poor concentration and memory, lack of interest in activities, and daytime sleepiness due to restless nights.  Doctors have determined that fatigue in cancer patients is due to changes in skeletal muscle protein influenced by tumor. Finally, cancer patients often experience breathlessness or dyspnea. Dyspnea is defined as airflow obstruction on large airways that can be caused by the tumor, extrinsic compression, or radiation stricture (Curry, Byers, & Hewitt, 2003).

Side Effects

Chemotherapy can cause many side effects. Chemical therapy drugs are very powerful and therefore lead to unwanted effects to the human body. Some people report a mental cloudiness or confusion after taking a chemotherapy treatment. This is often referred to as “Chemo Brain”.  About 23 percent of chemotherapy patients suffer from peripheral neuropathy (Curry, Byers, & Hewitt, 2003   ). These symptoms are caused by damage to nerves that control the sensations and movements of one’s arms and legs.  Radiation therapy causes side effects because it also damages or destroys healthy cells.  The side effects of radiation arebased upon the area of the body being treated.  Red skin on the area of treatment is very common. The skin may become dry and flake, peel and ooze like a burn or open sore, and the skin may become darker for an extended period of time.

References

American Cancer Society. (2011). Cancer facts and figures. Atlanta. GA: American Cancer Society.

Barg, F.K., & Gullatte, M.M. (2001). Cancer support groups: Meeting the needs of African Americans with cancer. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 17, 171–178.

Curry, S. J., T. Byers, & M. Hewitt, (Eds.). (2003). Fulfilling the Potential of Cancer and Prevention and Early Detection. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Fall, K., Holder, J. & Marquis, A. (2004). Theoretical models of counseling and psychotherapy. New York: Brunner-Routledge.

Gibbs, J., & Fuery, D. (1994). Mental health and well-being of Black women: Toward strategies of empowerment. American Journal of Community Psychology, 22, 559-582.