Question

Describe the clinical manifestations and interprofessional care of colorectal cancer.

Answer 1

* Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer can be defined as malignancies of the colon and rectum and abnormal cells and tissue growth of colon and rectum called colorectal cancer.

Clinical menifestation = Colorectal cancer is always asymptomatic if present symptomatically then its clinical menifestation depend on location of tumor size of tumor and lesion and the extent of involvement .

Right sided lesions clinical menifestation = Change in bowel habits, diarrhea vague abdominal discomfort, Black terry stools, anemia , weakness, weight loss, palpable mass in right lower quadrant.

Left sided lesions clinical menifestation = Change in bowel habits , often incresing constipation with bouts of diarrhea due to partial obstruction, bright , Streaked red blood in stool, cramping pain , weight loss, anemia, palpable mass.

Rectal lesions clinical menifestation = Change in bowel habits with possible urgent need to defecate, alternating constipation and diarrhea Narrowed caliber of stool, bright red blood in stool , feeling of incomplete evacaution , rectal fullness .

* Interprofessional care of colorectal cancer =  ​​​​​​The care of a patient with colorectal cancer have following parameters =

1. Achieving Adequate Nutrition =

* Meet the patient nutritional needs by serving a high calorie low residue diet for several days before surgery .

* Observe and record fluid losses, such as may be sustained by vomiting and diarrhea.

* Maintain hydration through IV therapy and record urine output.

* Encourage the patient to participate in meal planning to promote compliance.

2. Relieving constipation or diarrhea =  

* Monitor amount consistency , frequency and color of stool.

* For constipation use laxatives or enemas as needed, and encourage adequate fluid /fiber intake to promote bowel motility .

* For diarrhea encourage fluid intake to promote bowel motility .

3. Releiving pain =

* Assess type and severity of pain and administer analgesic as needed.

* Evaluate effectiveness of analgesic regimen.

4. Maintain energy level =

* Allow the patient frequent rest periods to regain energy.

* Administer blood product or recombinant human erythropoietin.

5. Minimizing fear =

* Encourage the patient and family to express feelings and fears together and separately.

* Provide information Question and answer regarding disease process and provide psychological support to the patient.