The Emotional Journey
A physiologic or emotional response to stress marked by apprehension, somatic tension, and anticipation of danger—real or imagined—and is commonly seen in cancer patients
What is anxiety?
Cancer and certain treatments increase hypercoagulability, leading to this serious cardiovascular complication characterized by unilateral leg swelling, chest pain, or sudden shortness of breath.
What is venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)?
This medical term refers to the subjective sensation of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, a common complaint among oncology patients.
What is dyspnea?
This persistent mood state is characterized by sadness, hopelessness, discouragement, and loss of pleasure or interest in activities. May range from mild distress to major psychiatric illness.
This edema results from the disruption of circulation due to lymph node damage
When assessing a patient with suspected fluid in their lungs, an oncology nurse would likely hear this adventitious breath sound, often described as high pitch popping or low pitch bubbling especially heard at the lung bases.
What are rales (or crackles)?
The most common, distressing, and pervasive sense of exhaustion experienced by cancer patients is unrelieved by rest
Patients who have received radiation to the chest—especially for lymphoma or breast cancer—are at increased risk for these long‑term complications
What are late radiation‑induced cardiovascular effects ncluding pericarditis, coronary artery disease, and valvular abnormalities.?
This type of lung inflammation, often occurring weeks to months after radiation therapy to the chest, can present with a dry cough, dyspnea, and low-grade fever.
What is radiation pneumonitis?
An interpersonal nursing approach to reduce patients' anxiety in which we truly LISTEN
What is empathic or active listening (therapeutic communication)?
Calm communication, validating fears, active listening, and helping the patient identify past coping skills
Patients with left ventricular dysfunction should be educated on these topics to help manage their symptoms and prompt early interventions. (Remember the mnemonic.)
What is Heart SMART: Symptoms to watch for/ report, Medications, Activity, Regular weight monitoring, and “Toss the salt shaker.”
weight loss, smoking cessation, decreased alcohol intake, stress reduction.
This condition involves an abnormal collection of fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall, often causing shortness of breath, and may require a thoracentesis for drainage.
This "cognitive restructuring" makes patients recognize negative thoughts and behavior, and encourages them to replace them with positive thoughts
What is the Cognitive Behavioral approach?
https://www.canva.com/design/DAHKi04s_Wg/KjwDVrsvuKCWLrUx8mAUiw/view
Although echocardiography is widely used to estimate cardiac function, this imaging modality is considered the gold standard for measuring left‑ventricular ejection fraction because of its superior accuracy and precision.
What is cardiac MRI (CMR)?
(Cardiac MRI is the gold standard for LVEF measurement due to accuracy and reproducibility.)
"Bl_om_c _ n" is a chemotherapy agent is notoriously associated with pulmonary toxicity, potentially leading to pulmonary fibrosis, which manifests as progressive dyspnea, dry cough, and hypoxemia, sometimes years after treatment.