Cancer of the Gastrointestinal Tract

This text is a primer on the care of the patient with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, for nurses who may not have experience in this demanding speciality. <p>The book begins with a comprehensive look at the issues and scope of the frequently used term “quality of life”. Chapters two and three take an in-depth look at the impact of cancer on the individual and the family. Chapters four to six then introduce the principal aspects of cancer as a disease from both a medical and nursing perspective, beginning with cancers of the aerodigestive tract through to lower gastrointestinal cancers.</p> <p>Chapter seven covers the role of nutrition in the prevention of cancer and the nutritional management of patients with cancer. Chapters eight and nine provide a guide to the management of patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy in order to familiarize the gastroenterology nurse with what may lie ahead for the patient.</p> <p>The final chapter outlines the principles of symptom management and palliative care for integration into patient care throughout the course of cancer.</p>