Introduction
There are hundreds of thousands of women who die prematurely due to breast, cervical and ovarian malignancies. In high-income countries, investments and programs aimed at preventing and treating malignancies that affect women, such as cervical cancer, have yielded impressive results (de Kok et al 2011). The second most frequent malignancy in women worldwide is cervical cancer. Cervical cancer kills more than 3,200 British women every year. Everyone, regardless of age, can be affected by this sort of cancer. The largest majority of deaths, however, occur among women in low and middle-income nations due to a lack of access to screening and treatment facilities (Hilton, 2010). Precancerous lesions can be detected by cytology (Pap smear) in high-income nations, and these approaches have been shown effective. Cervical cancer screening has been difficult to implement in most low- and middle-income countries due to a combination of factors, including a lack of finances, a weak health system, and a shortage of doctors with the necessary training.
Key Elements
Every year in the United Kingdom, approximately 3,200 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer, the majority of them are women in their early 30s. Especially given the fact that cervical cancer can be fatal, this figure should raise serious concerns (Labeit et al 2013). Women’s health issues, particularly those relating to their gynecological complaints, are frequently disregarded by the medical community. They are frequently dismissed and not taken seriously by healthcare providers, who tell them that their symptoms are caused by period cramps and are therefore not cause for concern. They are frequently turned down for further inquiry, which may be highly irritating for those who are experiencing symptoms and makes them unwilling to seek medical attention.
Socioeconomic factors
In groups of women where screening for cervical cancer is less accessible, cervical cancer is more prevalent. Black women, Hispanic women, American Indians and low-income women make up the majority of these demographics.
Oral contraceptives
According to some studies, oral contraceptives, such as birth control pills, may raise a woman’s risk of cervical cancer and lead to more risky sexual practices (Marlow et al 2015). There is still a need for further investigation on the link between oral contraceptives and cervical cancer.
Immune system deficiency
Cervical cancer is more common in people with weakened immune systems. Corticosteroid medicines, organ transplants, cancer therapies, or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome, can all decrease the immune system (AIDS). A person’s immune system is less effective in fighting against early cancer when they have HIV.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
HPV infection is the most significant risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV is widespread. The majority of sexually active persons are infected with HPV, and most of them eliminate the virus without any complications (Teoh et al 2018). HPV comes in over a hundred different varieties. There are some that aren’t, but not all of them. HPV16 and HPV18 are the most common forms of HPV linked with cervical cancer. A person is more likely to contract high-risk HPV kinds if they begin having sex early in life or have several sexual partners.
Health and Social Care Policies
Primary prevention
Preventing HPV infection and cellular alterations in the cervix are the first steps in the primary prevention of cervical cancer. Precursor lesions on the cervix are more likely to occur if a woman has a healthy immune system, avoids smoking, eats a healthy diet, and has a healthy sex life (Waller et al 2009). As a result, the package of primary prevention interventions may include health education and services such as age-appropriate sexual health education, contraceptive counseling and services such as condoms, and tobacco prevention and cessation assistance.
Secondary Prevention
Screening is the term used to describe the testing of women who do not have any symptoms in order to discover cancer risk (Sasieni et al 1996). The primary goal is to discover persistent HPV infections and cancer precursor lesions early on so that they can be treated before they progress to cancerous status. This can be accomplished most efficiently by screening the relevant target group in an organized manner rather than an opportunistic manner, as previously stated (Patnick, 2000). Cervical cancer screening programs that are well-organized have been demonstrated to significantly reduce the incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer, even in low- and middle-income nations.
Tertiary Intervention
tertiary intervention is directed at persons who have already been diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, with the goal of improving quality of life, reducing disability, minimizing consequences, and restoring function as much as possible (Shack et al 2008)This is accomplished through the diagnosis and treatment of the condition, as well as the provision of palliative care. As a result, anytime cervical cancer is detected, treatment must be made available to all affected women (Ali et al 2016). Women being treated for cervical cancer must be closely monitored, which necessitates meticulous attention to detail, precise evaluation of symptoms, and the distinction between symptoms caused by the disease and those caused by treatment complications or comorbidities such as lung, cardiovascular, HIV, and other diseases, among other things (Arulogun et al 2012). The participation of other stakeholders, such as family, communities, hospices, and home care providers, is critical. All parties involved in the care of the lady should strive to provide the greatest possible standard of care, which includes respect, dignity, and the protection of the patient’s rights.
Nurses Roles
The incidence of cervical cancer, as well as survival rates and trends in the disease, are examined, as is the role of the nurse and his or her commitment to delivering a high-quality cervical screening program for women (Ibbotson et al 1995). The majority of Pap smears are taken by the nurse in primary healthcare settings. It is critical that the nurse provides women with accurate and up-to-date information in a manner that they can comprehend in order to discover cervical cancer at an early stage.
Contributing To Understanding Behavior
Nursing practitioners have also made significant contributions to the development of behavioral therapies that have an impact on Pap testing outcomes (Pimple et al 2016). To design effective interventions, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the underlying screening intentions as well as the psychological factors that influence screening adherence (Dunleavey et al 2008). Women from low-income families and particular racial and ethnic groups bear a disproportionate share of the burden of cervical cancer in the United Kingdom; hence, targeted treatments for these populations are required.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Cervical screening procedures are carried out by nurses, midwives, and nursing associates, who will ensure that the experience is as pleasant as possible for the patient. Having nursing staff members who are vigilant and sympathetic to any difficulties that patients may like to discuss can also assist in reducing discomfort and tension associated with screening appointments (Scarinci et al 2010). Keep in mind that the technique is not a pleasant expertise, and patients require reassurance as well as a thorough explanation of the surgery, emphasizing why it is so essential – it can save lives if found early enough, and excellent treatment is available ( Denny 2012). As nursing staff, they make themselves available to discuss problems and emphasize the necessity of screening with everyone with whom they come into touch, not just patients, but also family members, colleagues, and acquaintances, as well as the general public (Turkistanlı et al 2013). By doing so, any worries women and people with a cervix may have about cervical screening can be addressed, resulting in increased uptake and a reduction in the number of women dying from cervical cancer.
Helps in Pre-treatment Assessment
It takes around an hour to an hour and a half for the pre-treatment appointment to take place. At this point, any blood tests and baseline observations (such as height, weight, and blood pressure) that are required are performed (Mishra et al 2011). The nurse first provides the patient with a general explanation of chemotherapy treatment and how it works, followed by more particular information regarding the drugs prescribed, their actions, and adverse effects (Qiao, 2010). Patients are also instructed on how to deal with any side effects, which can include nausea, diarrhea, sore mouth, and a high temperature. These side-effects are controllable, and it is therefore vital to make patients aware of any signs or symptoms that may occur so that they may be dealt with as quickly as possible if they do occur (Hillemanns et al 2016). The nurse will explain how the medications are reconstituted in the chemotherapy reconstitution unit and why this takes so long to complete. This assists patients in comprehending why they may be required to wait a specific amount of time before obtaining their medical treatment.
Conclusion
Policies in the areas of health and social welfare – the government has set in place a number of processes to help regulate the condition in terms of sickness prevention and overall management. Screenings and vaccinations are among the obligatory procedures. Women in their youth are given the HPV vaccine, which is intended to prevent the virus from entering the body, in order to prevent cervical cancer. It ensures that the virus does not infest the cells and that the cells do not become infected. It is the nurse’s responsibility as a member of the multidisciplinary team to try to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place if at all possible, and then to manage and avoid future deterioration — regular testing are recommended, blood/urine/sputum samples, barrier nursing and isolation are some of the procedures that are used to detect infection growth.
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