13 Cancer Nursing Care Plans
Cancer is a general term used to describe a disturbance of cellular growth and refers to a group
of diseases and not a single disease entity. Because cancer is a cellular disease, it can arise
from any body tissue, with manifestations that result from failure to control the proliferation and
maturation of cells.
There are more than 150 different types of cancer, including breast cancer, skin cancer, lung
cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma. Symptoms vary depending on the type.
Cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery.
Nursing Care Plans
Nurses have a huge set of responsibilities for handling a patient with cancer. Nursing care plans
for cancer involve assessment, support for therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation, etc.), pain
control, promoting nutrition, and emotional support.
Here are 13 cancer nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis:
Anticipatory Grieving
Nursing Diagnosis
● Grieving
May be related to
● Anticipated loss of physiological well-being (e.g., loss of body part; change in body
function); change in lifestyle
● Perceived potential death of patient
Possibly evidenced by
● Changes in eating habits, alterations in sleep patterns, activity levels, libido, and
communication patterns
● Denial of potential loss, choked feelings, anger
Cancer is a general term used to describe a disturbance of cellular growth and refers to a group
of diseases and not a single disease entity. Because cancer is a cellular disease, it can arise
from any body tissue, with manifestations that result from failure to control the proliferation and
maturation of cells.
There are more than 150 different types of cancer, including breast cancer, skin cancer, lung
cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma. Symptoms vary depending on the type.
Cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery.
Nursing Care Plans
Nurses have a huge set of responsibilities for handling a patient with cancer. Nursing care plans
for cancer involve assessment, support for therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation, etc.), pain
control, promoting nutrition, and emotional support.
Here are 13 cancer nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis:
Anticipatory Grieving
Nursing Diagnosis
● Grieving
May be related to
● Anticipated loss of physiological well-being (e.g., loss of body part; change in body
function); change in lifestyle
● Perceived potential death of patient
Possibly evidenced by
● Changes in eating habits, alterations in sleep patterns, activity levels, libido, and
communication patterns
● Denial of potential loss, choked feelings, anger
