After learning about their illness, cancer patients first find it difficult to accept, thinking that their bodies are very healthy and it is impossible for them to get sick. Later, they gradually accept the fact that they are sick, believing that their lives are coming to an end, and showing feelings of fear, despair, and other emotions. So why is cancer so scary in people's minds? Influenced by traditional beliefs, people believe that cancer is an incurable disease and can only wait for death after being diagnosed. And this concept is wrong. We need to have a correct understanding of cancer, establish confidence in fighting against the disease. With increased confidence, courage will also double, and action will be greater. Being able to actively cooperate with doctors' treatment can effectively prolong the patient's survival period. For end-stage cancer patients, their physical and mental suffering has reached an acceptable limit, and effective care can alleviate their pain and relieve their physical and mental torment. Now let's talk about how late stage cancer patients should be cared for? What should be paid attention to in terms of nutrition?
1、 How should late stage cancer patients be cared for?
1. Believe in science
For patients with advanced cancer, it is more difficult to treat the disease. Whether the disease can be treated requires a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition by the doctor. At the same time, it also requires full respect for the patient's hospital. Some patients with advanced cancer can effectively extend their life cycle after standardized treatment, such as breast cancer. The 5-year survival rate is relatively objective. For example, in the case of lung cancer, some patients with advanced lung cancer can survive for 7-8 days after effective treatment. Therefore, we should believe in science and hold onto the hope for a better life. Despite the immense physical and mental torment caused by late stage cancer, actively cooperating with treatment can alleviate these pains and greatly improve the quality of life. It should be noted that patients with advanced cancer must seek treatment at regular hospitals and should not trust folk remedies. These remedies may not only fail to treat the disease, but also cause damage to the body, exacerbating the condition.
2. Psychological care
Late stage cancer patients have more serious psychological problems, and it is necessary to strengthen psychological observation of patients and increase the level of attention to psychological issues. Cancer patients have anxiety, worry, and fear about their own diseases, and do not know how much time they have left to survive. This leads to long-term anxiety and unease, which not only causes psychological stress and is not conducive to the patient's physical regulation, but also promotes the development of the disease, making the condition further worsen. Therefore, family members need to intervene in the patient's emotions in a timely manner, help the patient adjust their mentality, provide more support and care to the patient, patiently listen to the patient's demands, and provide guidance to maximize the satisfaction of the patient's physical and mental needs, so that they can maintain emotional stability and be as happy as possible.
3. Dietary care
For patients with advanced cancer, their bodies become very weak under the influence of cancer cells, and their losses are severe. It is necessary to supplement the necessary nutrients and energy for the patient, adjust the dietary structure reasonably, and ensure a balanced diet. When eating, the principle is to eat small meals frequently, which can reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and promote better absorption by the body. The diet should be light and avoid stimulating and spicy foods as much as possible. At the same time, the taste should not be completely abandoned in the diet, and the color, aroma, and taste should be balanced as much as possible. This can stimulate the patient's appetite and ensure food intake. In the late stage, it is not necessary to consume large amounts of dietary supplements, as the patient's body is no longer able to withstand excessive nutrition, which may lead to further weakness.
4. Addressing Cancer Pain
Late stage cancer patients often suffer from the torment of cancer pain, which not only affects their psychological state but also leads to a continuous decline in their quality of life. Therefore, in nursing, attention should be paid to cancer pain, and cancer pain should be resolved in a timely manner. For patients with severe cancer pain, painkillers should be strictly prescribed according to medical advice. At the same time, attention diversion methods can be used to shift the patient's attention away from cancer pain, which can help alleviate the patient's cancer pain. As family members of patients, we should provide them with more companionship and work together to resist the pain caused by cancer.
5. Daily care
Late stage cancer patients need more companionship and care. As family members of patients, it is advisable not to leave them alone in their rooms for long periods of time. Instead, it is important to communicate and take good care of their diet and daily life. In case of any abnormal situations, patients should seek help from doctors in a timely manner. Caregivers can meet the nursing needs of patients, but cannot meet their psychological needs. Family and friends should give patients more care and support, and give them confidence to fight against the disease.
2、 What should late stage cancer patients pay attention to in terms of nutrition?
In the late stage of cancer, patients' appetite decreases and their food intake significantly decreases, coupled with factors such as fear and concern about cancer and its treatment, leading to malnutrition. The dietary structure of patients should be reasonably designed, selecting low-fat, high calorie, high vitamin, and high protein foods such as meat, eggs, etc., to ensure that the body can consume sufficient nutrients and maintain normal functioning. Encourage patients to consume more fresh fruits and vegetables, such as kiwifruit and shiitake mushrooms. In terms of food selection, there is no need for excessive refinement, and a reasonable diet combination is sufficient. During the process of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, adverse reactions such as anorexia and vomiting often occur due to the influence of radiotherapy and chemotherapy drugs. In this process, the principle of eating small meals and multiple meals should be followed, and easily digestible foods should be consumed; Avoid consuming sweet and greasy foods. In cases of severe nausea and vomiting in patients, antiemetic medication can be administered before eating. Based on the patient's dietary habits, choose a diversified diet plan, try to maintain previous dietary habits as much as possible, and promote better food intake for the patient. For patients with severe malnutrition, early nutritional support treatment should be adopted. For patients with swallowing dysfunction, nasal feeding nutritional support should be chosen. For patients with esophageal obstruction, gastric stoma surgery should be performed to provide patients with complete nutrients, including vitamins, amino acids, inorganic salts, and high sugar; For patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction, total parenteral nutrition is adopted to provide the necessary nutrients for the body and improve their nutritional status.
3、 Summary: Advanced cancer patients not only need effective treatment, but also need to take care of various aspects such as diet, psychology, and cancer pain, which can prolong the patient's survival time and improve their quality of life. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure the nutritional supply of the body, improve the nutritional status of the body, and cooperate with treatment in the best physical condition to help resist diseases.