Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, also called malignant hepatoma) is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection (hepatitis B or C) or cirrhosis (alcoholism being the most common cause of hepatic cirrhosis).
Signs and symptoms
HCC may present with jaundice, bloating from ascites, easy bruising from blood clotting abnormalities or as loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, abdominal pain,especially in the upper -right part, nausea, emesis, or fatigue.
Nursing Assessment Nursing Care Plan for Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Hepatoma
The assessment is important to know the background, socioeconomic status, customs / culture, and spiritual beliefs, so easy in the communications and determine appropriate nursing actions.
The main complaint: The enlargement of the liver is felt more and more annoying so that it can lead to complaints of shortness of breath is felt more heavily in addition accompanied by abdominal pain.
- History of present illness
Disease history can now be obtained through other people or by the client itself.
- Disease history of the past
Disease history of the past studied to obtain data on disease ever suffered by the client.
- Family Disease History
Family history of disease studied to find out data about the disease that had experienced ol er family members.
Early Phase: Asymptomatic.
Further Phase: No known symptoms are pathognomonic.
Complaints of abdominal pain, weakness and weight loss, anorexia, feeling of fullness after a meal is sometimes accompanied by vomiting and nausea. If there is metastasis to bone sufferers complain of bone pain.
On physical examination can be obtained:
- Splenomegaly, spider nevi, palmar erythema, edema.
In general, nursing assessment on the client with a case of hepatoma, include:
- Metabolic disorders
- Jaundice / icterus
- Endocrine Complications
- Activities were disrupted by treatment
Nursing Diagnosis for Hepatocellular Carcinoma