Policy and procedure Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Policy and procedure Development - Essay Example The following policy and procedure provides a guide for the management of fatigue for cancer patients. Relaxing body massage is a proven non-pharmacological fatigue management therapy for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Cancer patients develop fatigue due to the inadequate number of red blood cells to circulate oxygen to body muscles. Accumulation of carbon dioxide in the body cells result in chronic body fatigue for cancer patients (Ahlberg, 2003). The drugs administration lack the complete relaxation effect for most cancer patients. Current studies have downplayed the use of drugs to control chemotherapy fatigue. More ever, traditional relaxation methods such as resting and escaping are time-consuming. Massage is cost-effective and time-saving. While other relief methods such as drugs may have cost implications, massage is cheap and has long-standing effects. Studies conducted at the University of Miami suggests that massage helps reduce fatigue. Smooth, soft caresses over the affected area trigger the mind to produce Dopamine, a chemical that induces a feeling of well-being. The research also indicated that massage causes an increase in the white blood cells that boost immunity. The cancer foundation called them the natural killer cells and appeared on the first and last days of the massage. Massages offer a significant fatigue reduction to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy as compared to drugs. Specialized massage combined with other non-pharmacological practices such as physical exercise have proved effective in the control of body fatigue. Long usage of drugs to stimulate the body overworks the body cells and is detrimental more so to patients at the chronic cancer stages. Specialized cancer nurses and trained masseuse help determine the patient’s knowledge on non-pharmacological fatigue management. The cancer patient’s rights and family diversity will be