Capstone Project Change Proposal

Immune cells are often targeted due to their rapid division in response to fighting the cancer cells hence this is a primary reason why cancer patients are prone to infections. Another side effect that cancer patients receiving broad-based chemotherapy experience is exhaustion. Problem statement Reducing immunosuppression in cancer patients during treatment is the problem statement in this project and a significant concern to many health providers, however, nothing so far has been done regarding this problem. This is because attempting to stimulate the immune system during chemotherapy will worsen immunosuppression in patients. Many researchers debate on which treatment intervention between chemotherapy and radiotherapy has minimal effect in immunosuppression among cancer patients (Ghirelli & Hagemann, 2013). This is because a high rate of immunosuppression characterizes radiation therapy compared to chemotherapy.

Literature search strategy employed The keywords used in the search strategy are mainly chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunosuppression, and cancer. The involvement of authors in the nursing field in addressing immunosuppression in cancer patent during chemotherapy and radiation therapy facilitated the location and selection of quality sources of data for the current study. I made use of medical websites such as CINHAL and MEDLINE in locating the clinical research articles caused by immunosuppression (Wargo, Reuben, Cooper, Oh & Sullivan, 2015). Case studies and research articles were tested theoretically for literature review for consideration to be suitable for revealing and increasing relations as well as logic among various concepts in immunosuppression of cancer patients. Application of naturopathic medicine is one of the ways through which cancer patients can use to build up their immunity considering most of the immune system is in the gut.

Other techniques include minimizing the frequency of chemotherapy and radiation therapy being applied to the cancer patients. Also, CAM should be used to fight the treatment fatigue experience after chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are used (van Meir et al. The primary stakeholders that are to be involved in the proposed change include cancer patients and family members since I must get their approval before introducing immune-based therapies and CAM. Other stakeholders include a nutritionist, physicians and other nurses involved in the treatment process and the health care system in general. , & Brown, K. Unfreezing change as three steps: Rethinking Kurt Lewin’s legacy for change management.  Human Relations, 69(1), 33-60. doi: 10. 1177/0018726715577707 Farooqui, M. , & Kiyoko, K. Psychosocial Reaction Patterns to Alopecia in Female Patients with Gynecological Cancer undergoing Chemotherapy.