6.1. Features of care for oncological patients
Oncological diseases can be benign and malignant. The benign tumour has a capsule that delimits it from surrounding tissues, grows very slowly and is easily treated. Some benign tumours sometimes became malignant.
Malignant tumours are characterised by the following: the absence of capsule, uncontrollable growth with germination into neighbouring tissues, metastasis (transfer of tumour cells with lymph or blood flow to other organs and tissues), relapse (occurrence of tumour in the same place after its removal), cachexia (general exhaustion). Malignant tumours from the epithelial tissue are called cancer (carcinoma), and from the connective - sarcoma. The severity of the cancerous tumour process is usually indicated by stages.
There is a group of diseases on the background of which malignant tumours most frequently occur, these are the so-called pre-malignant conditions.
A feature of care for patients with malignant neoplasms is the need for a unique psychological approach. It is undesirable to allow the patient to know the correct diagnosis. The terms "cancer", "sarcoma" should be avoided and replaced with the words "ulcer", "narrowing", "induration", etc. In all extracts and certificates issued to the patients, the diagnosis also should not be apparent to the patient. The special care should be observed in conversation not only with patients but also with their relatives.
Oncological patients have a very labile, sensitive frame of mind which should be taken into account at all stages of servicing such patients. If consultation with specialists from another medical institution is required, then
a physician or a nurse is sent with the patient who is transporting the documents. If this is not possible, then the documents are sent by mail to the name of the head physician or issued to the patient's relatives in a sealed envelope. The actual nature of the disease can be reported only to the close relatives of the patient.