Cancer as A Population Health Issue and Its Relationship to The Health of The Americans

Cancer can invade and damage normal body tissues and spread to the entire body. It has been considered a threatening health concern globally due to the rising cases of affected people. However, the survival rates are increasing daily due to the enhancement of cancer detection equipment, treatment, and prevention procedures. This has promoted the recovery capabilities among the affected people for all types of cancer. The symptoms vary based on the type of body part affected. Overall signs and symptoms may be similar for different patients; however, they may not always signify the presence of cancer. In addition, the symptoms may overlap with those of other illnesses. For accuracy, people should undertake regular checkups to rule out possibilities. The causes of cancer are mutations that may be genetic or acquired through specific forms of lifestyle. Hence people must be aware of the problem, the triggers, and how they can be avoided to ensure healthy lifestyles.

Problem Statement

People are made up of many cells within their bodies which divide and multiply over time to initiate growth. Aged and irregular cells die with time; however, cancer is said to be present when this process does not occur as required ("What is cancer? | cancer basics | American cancer society", 2022). That is, new cells grow, yet the old or abnormal ones do not perish. Resultantly, an uncontrolled growth of cells that outgrows normal cells is experienced. This causes an environment that is not conducive to the body's normal functioning. Therefore, identifying these occurrences in people's bodies early enough is necessary to prevent the spread that can lead to fatalities.

Problem Epidemiology

Cancer has been among the leading causes of death globally for an extended period. Nearly ten million deaths were accounted for in 2020 ("Cancer," 2022). The most prevalent types of cancer include; breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers; additionally, in 2020, the new cancer cases reported included skin and stomach cancers ("Cancer," 2022). External agents that trigger the causes of cancer may be physical, biological, or chemical carcinogens. A third of cancer deaths are associated with tobacco use, elevated body mass index, high alcohol intake, minimal fruit and vegetable consumption, and poor exercising habits ("Cancer," 2022). Moreover, infections like human papillomavirus and hepatitis have contributed to an average of thirty percent of cancer occurrences ("Cancer," 2022). HIV has been considered to significantly increase the risk of developing certain cancers, such as Kaposi sarcoma ("Cancer," 2022). Therefore, care has to be observed to ensure that the risk factors are controlled while poor causative habits are avoided.

Rationale and Significance of the Problem concerning People's Health

The increased cancer-related deaths globally have necessitated the need for research and awareness among the people. Emphasis has to be made on the need to promote a healthy lifestyle for the people. This can prevent the emergence of additional cancers for the people previously diagnosed with it; especially cancer survivors ("Diet, nutrition, physical activity, and cancer: a global perspective," 2018). People can survive and prevent cancer by observing appropriate nutrition and diet, adequately exercising, and avoiding triggers like alcohol or tobacco. Through spreading this awareness to society, preventable cancers can be avoided and cured by combining efforts from the government, civic society, and individuals ("Diet, nutrition, physical activity, and cancer: a global perspective," 2018). Therefore, being a significant burden to society, cancer must be fought against through the unison of society in spreading its awareness.

Literature Review

Initially, cancer was seen as a disease for the high-end people in society and in high-income countries. Contrary to this opinion, the illness has proved to be a menace to the entire world. According to Ferlay et al. (2017), the disease is responsible for one in three untimely deaths from noncontagious diseases. The situation is considered to continue for several decades through population and lifestyle variation. The increased occurrences and changing profiles of common cancers are associated with societal and economic variations (Ferlay et al., 2017). Moreover, countries undergoing political and economic change face inequalities. The cancer occurrence and mortality rate are equaled by constrained information and data for proper planning and a lack of operational state plans for combating cancer (Ferlay et al., 2017). Hence, the future and present perspectives highlighted in this literature show a significant variation in the handling and perception of the disease.

Identification of The At-Risk Population

The prevalence of cancer varies across the population, where some people have a higher risk of developing cancer than others. For instance, people with HIV are more likely to have cancer ("WHO report on cancer setting priorities, investing wisely and providing care for all," 2020). For these people, the prevalent form of cancer is AIDS-defining, for example, Kaposi sarcoma, encroaching cervical cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphomas ("WHO report on cancer setting priorities, investing wisely and providing care for all," 2020). In addition, individuals living with AIDS are often prone to opportunistic infections and diseases due to reduced immunity levels. Therefore, there are cancers related to infectious diseases such as; anal and liver cancer, which are caused by HPV and hepatitis B and C, respectively ("WHO report on cancer setting priorities, investing wisely and providing care for all," 2020). Therefore, although infection with HIV AIDS does not necessarily mean that the person will develop cancer, the possibility is high. Therefore, such people should promote a positive lifestyle and healthy living through exercising, proper diets, and avoiding cancer triggers.

Risk Factors, Causes, and Known Prevention Measures

Cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of body cells, where the cells continue to multiply without the required death of the old or abnormal cells. This error in cell instruction is considered a cell mutation ("Cancer - symptoms, and causes," 2021). The error makes the cell cease its regular functioning, thus allowing it to be cancerous. The mutations may be acquired from birth, while others can be developed from triggers such as obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, or carcinogens like radiation ("Cancer - symptoms, and causes," 2021). In addition, some factors may increase a person's risk of developing cancer. These may include; age, where older people are more prone to the disease; habits, for people who smoke, drink alcohol, or don’t exercise; health conditions, for instance, people living with HIV; and environmental pollution with carcinogenic chemicals ("Cancer - symptoms, and causes," 2021). Therefore, cancer prevention can only be promoted through avoiding harmful or causative habits, exercising regularly, implementing and enforcing laws that ban pollution of the environment with carcinogenic substances, and eating healthy diets.

Evidenced-Based Diagnosis and Treatment Available for At-Risk PopulationSeveral methods may be applied for cancer diagnosis in medical facilities. These may include; a physical exam, where the doctor may feel the body for the existence of lumps indicating cancer or observe abnormalities like variation of skin color; laboratory tests for body fluid samples; imaging tests that aid in the examination of the internal organs to look for any abnormalities in cell growth; and biopsies that allow medical examiners to analyze tissue samples in the laboratories ("Cancer - symptoms, and causes," 2021). In addition, cancer cases exhibit a variety of treatment methods that involve; surgery, where the cancer is removed; chemotherapy, which uses drugs to eliminate cancerous growths; radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant, and immunotherapy ("Cancer - symptoms, and causes," 2021). Hence, the treatment methods aim to provide a cure while relieving pain and side effects of the process.

Justice, Legal, Regulatory, Data, and Advanced Practice Issues

Cancer-related legal issues are surprisingly broad regarding medical insurance for the affected, their rights at work, financial planning, and medical decision-making. Specific procedures carried out on the patients may require a legal approach where legal documents have to be signed by relevant stakeholders like loved ones or guardians. The incorporation of technology in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been considered successful and effective. Hence legal regulations have been developed around this aspect. However, the regulations for using the technology in the early detection of cancer as a right for the people have not been fully established among medical law specialists (Vasil et al., 2017). Therefore, research data from the studies should be used to enhance the legal frameworks associated with cancer.

Strategies/Policies Addressing Cancer Issue

legislative policies, governments can regulate the spread and occurrence of cancer globally. The goal to reduce the untimely deaths caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was included in the united nation's sustainable development goals in 2015 ("Policies & legislation," n.d.). Cancer is a non-communicable disease towards which the SDGs targets aim to reduce the risk factors while enhancing the nation's response strategies. Laws and policies have been implemented to curb these factors through; imposing taxes and raising prices on tobacco and alcoholic drinks, limiting hours of sale of alcohol, establishing designated areas for smoking to avoid passive smoking, and imposing laws that encourage access to affordable health care and free cancer screening ("Policies & legislation," n.d.). Thus, the policies assist in the reduction and mitigation of the risks associated with cancer, which reduces the cancer prevalence in society.

Implications of Cancer For Advanced Nursing Practice/Public

Cancer has significantly impacted the nursing sector over the years. For an extended period, general nurses have been employed to provide care for cancer patients through basic comfort strategies (Cummings et al., 2018); however, the case has changed over time. The oncology nursing specialty was developed through research and advanced knowledge to serve the growing demand for specialized care for cancer patients. Hence, through thorough and advanced training, the nursing practice has been taken to a new and more complex level. Consequently, the public stands to gain in the establishment of this field since the specialized nurses will ensure appropriate care. 

The cause of cancer has been established to be cell mutation acquired from birth or developed with time due to specific triggers. The need to eliminate these factors is necessary to reduce the occurrence of cancer. People with more significant risks should be informed of the ways to stay healthy and avoid actions that encourage disease development. Public health analysis should be done to establish the prevalence of cancer. This way, further assessment can be done to establish the common causative agents and consequently encourage the establishment and enforcement of policies and strategies to mitigate the disease's prevalence. The information acquired from the health analysis can be used to create awareness in society on how to handle cancer patients, how to avoid cancer development, and encourage activities geared towards achieving reduced untimely mortality associated with non-communicable diseases.

References

Cancer. Who.int. (2022).  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer.

Cancer - symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. (2021). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20370588.

Cummings, G., Lee, S., & Tate, K. (2018). The evolution of oncology nursing: Leading the path to change. PubMed Central (PMC).  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6516934/.

Diet, nutrition, physical activity, and cancer: a global perspective. Wcrf.org. (2018). https://www.wcrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Summary-of-Third-Expert-Report-2018.pdf.

Ferlay, J., P., Wild, C., & Bray, F. (2017). The burden of cancer worldwide: current and future perspectives. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315365885_The_Burden_of_Cancer_Worldwide_Current_and_Future_Perspectives.

Policies & legislation. The Cancer Atlas. https://canceratlas.cancer.org/taking-action/policies-and-legislation/.

Vasyl, T., Nataliya, G., & Vitalii, P. (2017). Legal aspects of cancer diseases prophylactics: patients’ rights context. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29478987/.

What is cancer? | cancer basics | American cancer society. Cancer.org. (2022). https://www.cancer.org/treatment/understanding-your-diagnosis/what-is-cancer.html.

WHO report on cancer setting priorities, investing wisely and providing care for all. Quotidianosanita.it. (2020). https://www.quotidianosanita.it/allegati/allegato4849716.pdf.