Caring for Patients with Lung Cancer (Podcast)

Lung cancer care has evolved significantly in recent years with the development of highly personalized, targeted therapies that are helping people live longer, healthier lives. But scientific advances are only one part of the equation. Oncology experts say the most effective treatment approach also addresses the emotional and practical challenges of living with the disease.

“The goal of any lung cancer team should be twofold: to provide lifesaving medications designed to keep the disease from growing and spreading, and to provide patients and families with the critical support they need to maintain the quality of life they love and deserve,” explains Alexandria Jordan, PA-C, a physician assistant at Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute. “This field is special because it allows caregivers to build lasting relationships with patients while guiding treatments rooted in cutting-edge innovation.”

In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Jordan describes the rapidly expanding landscape of lung cancer research, the pivotal role nurses play on her interprofessional clinical team, and the special relationships she’s built with her patients, some of whom have lived with metastatic lung cancer for more than a decade.

Click the podcast player above to listen to the episode now, or read on for a short, edited excerpt. Check out more Nurse Essentials episodes at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/nurse-essentials or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podcast excerpt

Podcast host Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, NEA-BC: There’s so much that oncology patients go through. How do you support them through the early days following a lung cancer diagnosis?

Vogler: I want them to know that I'm their advocate. It is a very vulnerable time – getting diagnosed with cancer in general – but my patients are also dealing with the stigma of lung cancer. It's a huge misconception that smoking is the sole cause of the disease. So, patients who do smoke are often burdened by guilt, and nonsmokers often feel like they’ve got to defend themselves: Hey, I wasn’t a smoker!

I get to know my patients very, very well…I see those who are on chemotherapy or immunotherapy every three to four weeks. In those initial visits, I want them to see that I'm someone they can count on. I'm an advocate. I'm going to help in whatever way I can. [I emphasize] that it's okay to be scared. The first question I always ask patients is: “How do you feel today?” About 90% say they’re nervous.

Next, I take them through every medicine in [their regimen]. It’s important they understand what prescriptions they're going to be taking…even their antiemetics…and any steroids they might need. I describe every chemotherapy or immunotherapy drug and explain the side effects of each.

Cancer patients need to have an idea of what's going on in their body – these are not "normal” drugs they're taking. It's common for them to express serious fears about the treatment itself...they don't realize that every cancer journey is unique. They’ll tell me, “Oh, my cousin took XYZ, and it made them feel horrible! They were so sick!” But I’ll say, “Let's focus on you. You’re my patient, and it’s my job to keep you comfortable.” We're providing truly individualized medicine.