Question

A 53-year-old man with pancreatic cancer is exploring all of the nonsurgical methods for managing his disease drug therapy, radiation therapy, and biliary stent insertion. What nursing roles are important during each of these types of interventions?

Answer 1

Role of nurse in chemotherapy

1. The nurse should help the patient to cope up with the side effects of the drugs like nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, mouth sores, diarrhoea or constipation, fatigue, shortness of breath, increased chance of infection and bleeding (due to Wbc an platelet shortage).

The drugs such as cisplatin, oxaliplatin and paclitaxel can cause nerve damage leading to nerve damage causing pain, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.

Psychological assurance is necessary since the client may experience drastic changes in his appearance.

Dietary advices help him to combat with​ nutritional deficits.

Role of nurse in radiation therapy:

1. Assess the pain scale and Provide analgesic as prescribed.

2. Check the bowel movements of the patient since he is on analgesic. Note that lack of bowel movements should not exceed more than 3 days.

3. Physical therapy to improve stamina and remove fatigue.

4. Radiation therapy can cause skin irritation resembling sunburn. Hydrogel therapy helps to comfort them.

5. Provide guidance, education and support to navigate the health care system and the cancer Continuum.

6. Stress release therapy can be adopted to divert patient front pain and other ill effects of radiation.

Role of nurse in patients with biliary stent insertion:

1. Observe for leakage at the site of insertion

2. There​is a risk for infection which can be treated with antibiotics if identified earlier.

3. There is a possibility of blockage in the stent which may bring back the symptoms.

4. The stent may move from its position.

All these risks should be explained to the client and ask him to report as early as possible in case of symptoms noticed.