LCC trains 50 Oncology nurses

The Lakeshore Cancer Care (LCC) has trained more than 50 Oncology Nurses to cope with the rising cases of cancer in the country.
An Oncology Nurse is a nursing professional who specializes in caring for people with cancer.

The Center, which is solely designed by a team of global experts on surgical and radiation oncology for high quality prevention and treatment of cancer organised the sensitisation with the theme, ‘Role of nursing in control of breast cancer’ had in attendance both nurses from private and public hospitals and cancer care centres.

The Chief Executive Officer, Lakeshore Cancer Centre, Prof. Chukwumere Nwogu said the training was influenced by the critical roles of the oncology nurse in information delivery, communication and coordination of cancer care.

“You hear a lot about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), tuberculosis and malaria, but more people die from cancer globally than all those three combined. Low-to-middle income countries carry a disproportionately higher burden of death from cancer, so it’s very appropriate for us to be doing this,” he added.

The Medical Director, who is a highly respected Cancer Epidemiologist and Thoracic Surgical Oncologist, said that the relatively new profession is one of the most challenging and rewarding fields.

“Availability of oncology nurses is inadequate to meet the growing demand for their input. This is frequently compounded by poor utilisation of their knowledge, skills and experience. More nurses are required to support patients during the most difficult and intimate moments of their lives,” he added.

Nwogu advised nurses to look at and feel the breasts and under the arms for lumps or anything else that seems unusual during Clinical Breast Examination (CBE).

“A clinical breast exam is performed by a trained healthcare professional that could recognize many different types of abnormalities and warning signs,” he added.

Speaking on the relevance of CBE, he emphasised that it is an important part of early detection, saying, “although most lumps are discovered through breast examinations, an experienced professional may notice a suspicious place that fails to register as a warning in the patient’s mind.”

Head, Oncology Unit, Lakeshore Cancer Centre, Nurse Emeribe Uchenna, advised women to regularly do both self examination and clinical checks, remain physically fit, reduce alcohol intake, and have healthy diet.

Uchenna added that breast cancer occurs almost entirely in women and early detection is germane to its survival.

She noted that there are non-modifiable risks, which includes age, family history, gene, personal history, obesity, radiation and late side effect of chemotherapy, pregnancy history after 30 years of age; replace hormone therapy, late menopause and menstrual history.

Uchenna further advised cancer patients not to lose hope but to get the best care possible.