Extensive stage is too widespread to be included within the definition of limited-stage disease. Accurate staging of lung cancer is necessary to provide optimum treatment. Stages II-IV are treated with various combinations of cancer treatment modalities. Clinical trials with standard chemotherapy agents and new agents, variations of doses in current regimens, surgical resection plus radiation therapy plus chemo-therapy, and new radiation therapy schedules and timing are in progress. Nursing management considerations for the patient with lung cancer include surgical, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy nursing care.
Many paraneoplastic syndromes can occur with lung cancer.
Symptom management is an important component in helping lung cancer patients deal with their illness and treatment. Nurses must assess, educate, and assist patients in coping with psychosocial issues and problem symptoms such as cough, pain, dyspnea, hemopytosis, and wheezing. The major challenge of lung cancer for nurses is in the area of prevention and cessation education. Nurses must be aware of the physiologic, political, and cost issues associated with smoking and lung cancer so that they can become active professional, public, and patient educators in the fight against cancer. Caring for a patient with lung cancer.