Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 8, Issue 5: Lung Cancer

This lesson on Lung Cancer includes a complete training packet. Each in-service packet takes approximately one hour to complete and fully meets the Medicare in-service training requirements. As aides need training, you can make as many copies as you want - there's no restriction when used with aides assigned from your office location. Remember that Home Health Aides must have 12 hours of in-service training every year.

LESSON OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: Identify the three primary causes of lung cancerList three symptoms of each type of lung cancerName the three treatments for lung cancer and the side effects of eachDescribe two points in care for a patient with lung cancer
OVERVIEW
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States and throughout the world. It has surpassed breast cancer to become the leading cause of cancer death in women. Although it affects more men than women, that gap is closing. Because lung cancer can take years to develop, it is mostly found in people over 65 years of age. When lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, only about 2 percent of patients are still living five years after the diagnosis. For lung cancers diagnosed at a very early stage, approximately 49 percent of patients survive for five years or longer. Home health aides will be called upon to care for patients with lung cancer. Providing physical and emotional support during recovery is an important aspect of care.

This in-service lesson presents an overview of lung cancer and how the home health aide plays an important role in helping patients cope and live with the disease.