Cancer of the Gastrointestinal Tract

This text is a primer on the care of the patient with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, for nurses who may not have experience in this demanding speciality. The book begins with a comprehensive look at the issues and scope of the frequently used term "e;quality of life"e;. Chapters two and three take an in-depth look at the impact of cancer on the individual and the family. Chapters four to six then introduce the principal aspects of cancer as a disease from both a medical and nursing perspective, beginning with cancers of the aerodigestive tract through to lower gastrointestinal cancers. Chapter seven covers the role of nutrition in the prevention of cancer and the nutritional management of patients with cancer. Chapters eight and nine provide a guide to the management of patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy in order to familiarize the gastroenterology nurse with what may lie ahead for the patient. The final chapter outlines the principles of symptom management and palliative care for integration into patient care throughout the course of cancer.

This text is a primer on the care of the patient with cancer of thegastrointestinal tract, for nurses who may not have experience inthis demanding speciality.The book begins with a comprehensive look at the issues andscope of the frequently used term "quality of life". Chapters twoand three take an in-depth look at the impact of cancer on theindividual and the family. Chapters four to six then introduce theprincipal aspects of cancer as a disease from both a medical andnursing perspective, beginning with cancers of the aerodigestivetract through to lower gastrointestinal cancers.Chapter seven covers the role of nutrition in the prevention ofcancer and the nutritional management of patients with cancer.Chapters eight and nine provide a guide to the management ofpatients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy in order tofamiliarize the gastroenterology nurse with what may lie ahead forthe patient.The final chapter outlines the principles of symptom managementand palliative care for integration into patient care throughoutthe course of cancer.

Contributors.Series Foreword.Preface.Chapter 1 Quality of life and the cancer journeySuzanne Nikoletti and S. Robin Cohen.Chapter 2 The impact of cancer on self-concept, LizAshton.Chapter 3 The impact of cancer on the family, Linda J.Kristjanson and Sue Davis.Chapter 4 Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: headand neck, Peter Rhys Evans and Fran Rhys Evans.Chapter 5 Cancfer of the upper gastrointestinal tractKaren Tarbuni, Hanif Shiwani and Peter Sedman.Chapter 6 Cancer of the lower gastrointestinal tract:colon and rectum cancer, Mandi Bulmer and Graeme Duthie.Chapter 7 Nutrition and gastrointestinal cancer, DianePalmer and Pamela Barker.Chapter 8 Care of the patient receiving radiotherapyDavina Porock.Chapter 9 Care of the patient receiving chemotherapySally Legge.Chapter 10 Symptom management and palliative careJulie MacDonald and Tracey McCready.Index.