Consumer Case Study Essay

 Consumer Case Study Essay

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

 

 

Consumer Case Study Essay

Introduction

            Colorectal cancer has been established to be the second most prevalent variant of the disease in Australia, with treatment mainly involving screening, surgical resection, and adjuvant therapy. However, an estimated 30 to 50% of patients who have been treated for the disease are likely to develop recurrent infections within the first five years after recovery (Arnold et al., 2017, p.684). The primary objective of this case study will be to create a survivorship care plan for managing John’s condition, which incorporates the follow-up regimen, colorectal cancer recurrence symptoms analysis, plans to improve survival, and evidence-based communication strategies to enhance patients’ literacy on the issue.

Discharge Planning

           
John’s colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment summary will incorporate staging, surgery, and adjuvant therapy, designed to prevent recurrence and reduce the severity of side effects including peripheral neuropathies, ototoxicity, and mucositis (Duineveld et al., 2016, p. 219). Staging will include tumor histology and an abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) scan to establish perineal invasion, lymphovascular involvement, and the degree of spread. Loco-regional staging will be conducted to inform decisions regarding the need to undergo post-treatment chemo-radiotherapy (Duineveld et al., 2016, p. 221). Extensive tests that will be performed will include Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) blood tests, CT scans, colonoscopy, and recto-sigmoidoscopy at intervals of between 6 and 12 months depending on the likelihood of recurrence (Miller et al., 2019, p. 109). Conducting CEA tests at intervals of 3 to 6 months will allow for timely detection of the Carcinoembryonic antigen protein, which is usually low in adults apart from instances where one suffers from different types of cancers, ulcerative colitis, rectal polyps, emphysema, and pancreatitis.

Adjuvant therapy will also incorporate the use of antineoplastic drugs such as Irinotecan, 5-Fluorouracil, Capecitabine, and Oxaliplatin, alongside other medicine combinations including Trifluridine and Tipiracil (Lonsurf). The patient will be informed of adverse drug reactions, for example, diarrhea for patients who use Irinotecan, which may complicate the treatment process. According to information released by (Danenberg et al., 2016, p. 119), Oxaliplatin has been associated with neuropathy, whose physical manifestation is often in form of intense esophageal sensitivity to cold and hot substances which cause difficulties when swallowing, pain, numbness, and tingling in the feet and hands (Malouf et al., 2018, p.75). The management of these side effects will involve the prescription of pain medications like morphine, oxycodone, and methadone. Original patient documentation which must be incorporated in the care plan includes relevant laboratory test results, allergies and adverse drug reaction reports, treatment plans, patient demographic forms, and medication charts (Reed et al., 2018, p.1182). These records are critical in fostering quality and continuous care as they act as a means of communication between the numerous care providers such as anesthetists, surgeons, oncologists, and counselors involved in John’s treatment and care process.

The main symptoms of colorectal cancer recurrence include weight loss, belly pain, altered defecation, constipation, and abdominal pain. Duineveld et al. (2016, p. 220) state that patients often suffer from similar physiologic signs as in the first instance, thus, John is likely to report belly pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea or difficulties passing fecal matter. Other symptoms may include general body weakness, troubled breathing, and back pain (Wille-Jørgensen et al., 2018, p. 2101). The effectiveness of management and treatment procedures depend on the timeliness of diagnosis (Steele et al., 2015, p. 716). Therefore, routine check-ups and testing should be conducted regularly to determine abnormalities early enough.

Collaborative Approaches to Education and Planning for Self-Management

           
Survivorship has recently emerged as a critical aspect of colorectal cancer care trajectory, which addresses the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social concerns of patients during and after treatment. Current survivorship programs have been designed to enable survivors and patients to face their health issues, reduce the level of panic and anxiety associated with the symptoms of the disease, and lessen the costs related to treatment (Young et al., 2014, p. 262). A research conducted by Bulkley et al. (2013, p. 2517) established that individuals who had been diagnosed with or treated for colorectal cancer might have difficulties finding meaning in life. These spiritual survivorship concerns may change over time and involve feelings of depressio