Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I have been following The Clinical Respiratory Journal and got insights for my research regarding respiratory and lung diseases. There are various research studies published for the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases including cancer. Here, I have focused on lung cancer caused by tobacco and drugs, with the current state of health policy and possible improvements in it as a health advocate.
Smoking and drug addiction are the primary risk factors for lung cancer, leading to lung cancer having the biggest mortality rate of all cancers. Although it has decreased in men by 45% and women by 19% due to the US government’s smoking and drug prevention programs. CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) started National Tobacco Control Program through interventions and policy-making strategies.
As a nurse and health advocate, I have analyzed the fact there are many shortcomings in tackling issues related to mental well-being and drug use. At first, it looks like a relief but causes serious organ damage and long-term addiction. Timely diagnosis of lung cancer and symptom identification can ease the situation and radiotherapy can be started to kill cancerous cells from the very start. Usually, they are not aware of the disease situation, the usual cough and breath shortness turn into blood vomiting and pain while breathing. Health advocates counsel people on how to recognize abnormal health and psychological situations. After the detection of the disease, an intervention plan including chemotherapy for cancer and rehabilitation for addiction is introduced (Jett et al., 2018).
NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 3 Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy
There is a big treatment outcome difference in detecting cancer at 1st stage and last stage. American Lung Association works for preventive measures to reduce the risk of developing lung cancer through health advocacy programs. Discouraging the use of tobacco reduces the development of cancer. Low-dose CT scans for smokers with a high risk of lung cancer make early detection possible and reduce the death rate by 20%. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has issued treatment guidelines that work for specific patent conditions because every lung cancer situation is different. It is important to participate in clinical trials to choose the best treatment strategy with the help of your health advocate (Bracken-Clarke et al., 2021). Although treatment coverage through insurance plans still needs to be improved. Lung screening coverage by the Lung association has gaps that require better management.
Development in the treatment of lung cancer and policies related to it is crucial. CT screening is more effective than radiotherapy but it has many obstacles in implementation such as high radiation exposure and cost. The study has recommended computer models for diagnosing lung cancer through machine learning and a web-based patient screening approach. This model framework solves the over-dose diagnosis problem and decreases error chances (Et. al., 2021).
NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 3 Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy
Healthcare facilities don’t function individually but through collaboration with the government and community. The government provides them with policy management resources to establish and maintain rehabilitation centers and the community provides the necessary support. Clinical needs for tobacco and drug adductors are only possible to meet if there is a collaboration between therapy centers and hospitals. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) with the collaboration of CDC’s National Centre for Environmental Health (NCEH) runs environmental health programs to control lung cancer by preventing exposure to asbestos and radon. Nurses, doctors, and technologists are inevitable to create better opportunities for early diagnosis, controlling the severity of symptoms, and developing modern intervention strategies for future outcomes (Bade & Dela Cruz, 2020).
Lung Cancer itself is a deadly disease that soaks up all the energy in smokers and drug users. Through research reports and study surveys, it is proven that other diseases and psychological illnesses are risk factors for cancer. Hepatitis is a common viral lung disease that often develops after a chronic cough. After hepatitis, the patient is more vulnerable to other interlinked diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and nutrition deficiency. Drug therapy and cancer treatment are not one-specialist cases anymore as other medical disciplines are also involved in the treatment plan. For the development of an effective treatment strategy and desired outcomes, an interdisciplinary collaboration among radiologists, general physicians, nutritionists, and psychologists is required (Bertolaccini et al., 2022).
I have briefly discussed the risk factors, prevention programs for tobacco use, and treatment policies for the prevention of lung cancer. Advised healthcare models are not always successful due to certain reasons and conditions. The Healthcare system needs to develop alternatives and be more compatible with modern health issues. I hope my research and suggested strategies will help other colleagues.
NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 3 Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy
References
Bade, B. C., & Dela Cruz, C. S. (2020). Lung Cancer 2020. Clinics in Chest Medicine, 41(1), 1–24.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccm.2019.10.001
Bertolaccini, L., Mohamed, S., Bardoni, C., Lo Iacono, G., Mazzella, A., Guarize, J., & Spaggiari, L. (2022). The Interdisciplinary Management of Lung Cancer in the European Community. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(15), 4326.
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11154326
NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 3 Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy
Bracken-Clarke, D., Kapoor, D., Baird, A. M., Buchanan, P. J., Gately, K., Cuffe, S., & Finn, S. P. (2021). Vaping and lung cancer – A review of current data and recommendations. Lung Cancer, 153, 11–20.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2020.12.030
de Groot, P. M., Wu, C. C., Carter, B. W., & Munden, R. F. (2018). The epidemiology of lung cancer. Translational Lung Cancer Research, 7(3), 220–233.
https://doi.org/10.21037/tlcr.2018.05.06
Et. al., K. K. (2021). A Novel Bayesian Framework For Multi-State Disease Progression Of Lung Cancer. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT), 12(10), 3675–3680.
https://doi.org/10.17762/turcomat.v12i10.5056
Jett, J., Stone, E., Warren, G., & Cummings, K. M. (2018). Cannabis Use, Lung Cancer, and Related Issues. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 13(4), 480–487.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtho.2017.12.013
Kalaitzidis, E., & Jewell, P. (2020). The Concept of Advocacy in Nursing. The Health Care Manager, 39(2), 77–84.
