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Cancer of the Cervix -
Nursing
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ContentsNurses and Cancer of the Cervix.Nurses play a vital role in the treatment and management of gynaecological cancer. They provide specialist care at all stages of the process. Areas involving this specialist care include:
Post-operative Nursing for Allied Health ProfessionalsSome knowledge and skills in the following areas may be needed in the nursing care of gynaecological oncology patients. Stomal TherapyAs some patients may need to have bowel surgery, colostomies, or ileostomies, stomal therapy is an important area of consideration. As this surgery also often involves extensive wounds, the appropriate knowledge of wound care and wound care products is required. Invasive Monitoring And ProceduresPatients may required Central Venous Pressure / Arterial Line Monitoring. Knowledge of the use of portacaths, PICC's, central lines to deliver intravenous fluids and medications; and non invasive sequential compression devices is also required. Chemotherapy and Radiation TherapyKnowledge of the appropriate routes, doses and reactions is required. Infection Control.Nurses must be aware of standard infection control precautions. Radiation Therapy Nursing for Allied Health Professionals.It is essential to understand the difference between external beam and internal radiation therapy. External is generally more simple than internal as it does not require the use of applicators. Usually, the patient need simply undress, receive treatment, redress and go home. The peak period for side effects differs between internal and external therapy. There are some cases where iridium patients have not peaked until 12 months after the cessation of treatment. InternalInternal caesium or irridium involves the use of catheters, hardware (metal rods) or plastic catheters sutured into the vulval area. Staff need to be aware of this equipment. The vulval area must be kept clean during internal radiation therapy, and peri toilets are needed. If the tumour is bulky, it may begin to shrink after a few treatments. If this happens, there is a risk that the catheters can dislodge or move. In this instance, the physicist needs to be notified, as the treatment fields may have changed. Caesium is given for up to 72 hours. If the applicator dislodges, the Caesium source could be sitting in the bed which is a danger to staff and the patient. This problem can be partly alleviated by the use of blind end catheters. Caesium can cause atrophy so dilators are required. Palliative Care Nursing for Allied Health Professionals
Community Nursing for Allied Health ProfessionalsCatherine Nicholas – In-Hospital Nursing Gail Powell – In-Hospital Nursing Carol Parker – Radiation Therapy Nursing Bronwyn Scharf – Radiation Therapy Nursing Lesley McLeod – Palliative Care Nursing
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