Nursing care for patients with secondary brain cancer undergone radiotherapy

Abstract

          The trend of patients with brain metastasis has increased and this health problem is critical for patients and health care providers to deal with. The occurrence of brain metastasis relies on the type of the origin of the primary cancer cells, number, and location in the brain. The primary cancer cells mostly comes from lung and breast cancers.  Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used to screen and diagnose patients with brain metastasis. Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is a gold standard for treating brain metastasis. Patients with brain metastasis have to face with various symptoms afflicted by growth cancers in the brain and consequences of having radiotherapy. In the acute phase, symptoms are related to brain swelling. However, after treatment, fatigue and somnolence syndrome can occur in early – delayed period. After complete WBRT, neuro-degeneration is involved in the later phase. Understanding the mechanism of brain metastasis, method of diagnosis, and the process of WBRT is crucial to for nurses who have been taking care of these patients. Nurses should know how to give patients with brain metastasis the best care in order to help patients be able to manage their symptoms happening during the treatment period, to pass and relieve the crisis condition of suffering with symptoms, and to sustain the quality of life for patients with brain metastasis.