Lung Cancer
Most lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which includes squamous, adeno, and large cell
carcinomas.
Radiation
◦Because external radiation commonly causes skin irritation, the nurse should wash the irradiated
area with water only and leave the area open to air. No soaps, deodorants, lotions, or powders
should be applied
Remember therapeutic communication!!!!
Hypoxia: decreased O2 in inspired air
Hypoxemia: decreased O2 in the blood
Hypercapnia: increased CO2 in the blood
Hypocapnia: decreased CO2 in the blood
EXPECTED FINDI NGS
Clients can experience few manifestations early in the disease. Monitor for manifestations that often appear late
in the disease.
• Fatigue, weight loss, or anorexia
• Fever (pneumonitis or bronchitis that occurs with obstruction)
• Persistent cough, with or without hemoptysis (rust-colored or blood-tinged sputum)
• Hoarseness
• Altered breathing pattern: dyspnea, prolonged exhalation alternated with shallow breaths (obstruction),
rapid, shallow breaths (pleuritic chest pain, elevated diaphragm)
• Altered breath sounds (wheezing)
• Diminished or absent breath sounds (obstruction)
• Chest pain or tightness
• Chest wall masses
• Muffled heart sounds
• Pleural friction rub
• Clubbing of fingers
• Increased work of breathing (retractions, use of accessory muscle, stridor, nasal flaring)
• Decreased bone density
Assessment
•Skin color; LOC; mental status; respiratory rate, depth, effort, and rhythm; use of accessory
muscles; shape of the chest and symmetry of chest movements; finger clubbing
•Inspect nose, inflammation; tracheal symmetry
• Dyspnea, on inspiration, increased or more frequent cough, increased sputum production or
change in color/consistency of the mucus, wheezing, hemoptysis, SOB
• Cough, dyspnea, chest pain
• Hoarseness
• Hemoptysis
