Colon Cancer and Relationship to Immune System
Introduction
Colon cancer also called colorectal, or bowel cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the colon or rectum. Colon cancer usually affects older adults; however, it can as well happen at any age. It usually begins as small noncancerous clumps of specific cells called polyps that develop inside the colon or rectum. Often most of these polyps develop into colon cancer. The polyps are generally small and may or may not produce any symptoms. However, the doctors recommend regular screening to help in identifying the polyps as well as removing them before they become cancerous. There are various treatments available for colon cancer. They include radiation therapy, surgery, and drug treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. A colon is the last part of the digestive system.
Signs and symptoms of colon cancer
It is not easy to identify colon cancer at the early stages because its symptoms are barely noticeable, and when the symptoms appear, they are likely to vary depending on the size and location in the colon. Its signs and symptoms include;
- Rapid weight loss
- Continuance change in bowel habits
- Rectal bleeding as well as blood in the patient stool.
- Constant abdominal discomforts like cramps, pain or gas
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Diagnostic testing and rationale
It is recommended for healthy people to undergo a screening test to identify any sign and symptom of colon cancer or colon polyps. Identifying colon at an early stage offers the most significant opportunity for a cure (Miller et al., 2016). Doctors argue that screening reduces the chances of dying of colon cancer. They recommend that individuals with an average risk of colon cancer should consider screening at age 45. However, those with high opportunities like those with a family history of colon culture should begin screening sooner (Burke et al., 1997). When the doctors confirm that one is likely to have colon cancer they can recommend a specific test and procedures like the use of a scope to scrutinize the inside of the individual’s colon (colonoscopy) or run a blood test. Although blood test may not tell if the person has colon cancer, the doctor might test the blood to observe the overall health like kidney and liver function tests. Also, the doctor might test the blood to identify a certain chemical usually produced by colon cancers.
Evidence-based treatment
Colon cancer is a global disease whose incidence has increased rapidly. Evidence-based treatment, in this case, is a category of therapy that optimizes decision making by the use of evidence obtained from a well-designed and conducted research (Zhang et al., 2016). The therapy is useful in formulating a reasonable treatment plan for a patient admitted with colon cancer. Clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in relation to the comprehensive treatment of rectal/colon cancer has been conducted by many researchers hence increasing the intensity of treatment of the colon. Research and findings from the group of researchers indicate that perioperative blood transfusion has a decisive effect on the recurrence of the colon/rectal cancer after the surgery. However, since both the cases had some errors as well as the impact of the surgical operations, it is clear that there is no causal connection between perioperative blood transfusion and the recurrence of the colon cancer. Therefore, the recommendation of blood transfusion therapy for individuals with colon cancer should be restricted. In another research conducted on six RCT studies suggest that the odds ration value of cancer reappearance following the transfusion1.06 (95% CI: 0.88-1.28). However, there is no enough evidence that the perioperative blood transfusion can increase the occurrence of surgical complication like the tumour metastasis.
A different group of researchers performed a meta-analysis on the 14 RCT studies, and the results demonstrated that preoperative radiotherapy for colon cancer in association with radical surgical resection reduces the 5-year local reoccurrence rate as well as the mortality rate as compared to single radical treatment. The OR observed is 0.71(95% CI: 0.61-0.82; p<0.001). From the findings, the occurrence of distant metastasis between the stated groups is not statistically important. Therefore, the researchers concluded that the individual with colon cancer who suits surgical resection as well as radiation therapy before the surgery largely improves the patients’ chances of survival.
Master’s prepared nurse
For a master’s prepared nurse to effectively relate the discipline of pathophysiology in their daily practice, they must have an in-depth understanding of the disease and its relationship to the immune system. The immune system protects the body against infections caused by viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Cancer can weaken the immune system by spreading its cells into the bone marrow. Therefore, the information, in this case, will help the master’s prepared nurse to understand different approaches to the treatment of colon cancer. The nurses are obligated with the responsibility of ensuring the patients are responding well to the medication. Therefore to make their work easier, the nurses are adopting the patient education session strategy. The information provided can be used by a nurse to develop patient education system. For example, the nurse can give the patients the information concerning the signs and symptoms that might require immediate attention. The most important information presented in this case is the causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatments.
Patient safety issues
Patient safety is an essential aspect of health care that emphasizes the need to ensure that all the patients are safe from any external or internal harm. It is important to address safety issues to the patients to make work easier for the nurses. Some of the safety issues to be addressed to patients with colon cancer include, educating them on the disease and its complications, develop patient safety programs to create awareness about cancer and finally to train doctors on how to handle patients with colon cancer.