Cancer is a disease that has plagued many people across the world. Each year 12.7 million people discover they have cancer and 7.6 million people die from the disease (Huffington Post, 2011). Many of us can say that cancer, whether it be us that is sick or someone who is close to us, has affected our lives in some way. My family in particular took a hard blow when my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a while, the cancer spread into her bones and she passed away soon after because of it. In this paper I will be discussing what cancer is, what it is caused by, some identifiable symptoms, treatment options, effects if left untreated, and the effects of living with the disease. Cancer is a group of diseases …show more content…
One of the troubling things about it is that sometimes the signs or symptoms will not arise until the cancer has made a significant amount of progression. Some cancers may cause extreme tiredness or fatigue. This is because the multiplication of cancer cells takes up a lot of the body’s energy. Cancer cells can also release substances into your body that affect nerves and muscles and causes symptoms that can make a person weak or dizzy. For example, some pancreatic cancers release substances that cause blood clots in the veins of the legs. A few of the common symptoms of cancer include unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, pain, skin changes (hyperpigmentation, jaundice, erythema, pruritis, or excessive hair growth). Some cancers have specific symptoms such as skin cancer, where sores appear that do not heal and may bleed. A long lasting sore in someone’s mouth may be an indication of some kind of oral cancer. Long-term diarrhea, or change in stool size may possibly be a sign of colon cancer. Many cancers of the soft tissue (breasts, testicles, and lymph glands) can be felt through the skin. A lump may be an indication that cancerous tissue
The time of life we call dying is an extremely difficult part of the life cycle, but a normal part," says palliative-care physician Ira Byock, author of Dying Well. "The nature of it isn't medical, it's experiential. " My grandfather had stage 4 lung cancer with metastatic to liver . Only palliative care advised by doctors. He was an strong personality .He loved all his grand kids too much.
For every one hundred thousand men, approximately thirty-six thousand and nine hundred will be diagnosed with some form of cancer and two hundred and eight of those cases will be completely fatal (National Cancer Institute). The statistics of cancer to many are terrifying, especially those affected in some way. Reactions vary from person to person when presented with such a murderer 's disease, whether they themselves are suffering or someone they care about is suffering. Many ideas are shared about cancer and much research is done but in simplicity, cancer is “any evil condition or thing that spreads destructively” (Dictionary.com). Although it is not only the sufferers of the disease suffering horribly but the loved ones in their lives too,
Almost every individual has had an experience where they or someone they know have battled a disease. No matter what the disease is, the patient typically is associated with negativity; however, in this memoir by Suleiki Jaouad, the author places a different view on cancer. Suleiki Jaouad developed (AML) acute myeloid leukemia, due to a bone marrow disorder, at the age of twenty two. Throughout her story, Jaouad discusses the impacts of developing cancer and how she coped with her disease. Her most precious asset was her long, wavy hair, and she knew once she began her chemotherapy treatments that she would not be able to keep her long hair.
Having cancer frequently forces patients into changing their lifestyles for the better. It is proven that making positive lifestyle changes decreases the chances that cancer will recur. "Many patients and survivors worry about cancer coming back after treatment. Evidence suggests that making positive lifestyle changes during and after cancer treatment may help prevent a recurrence or second cancer" (Healthy Living After Cancer). This can show how the fear of the recurrence of cancer can drive the former cancer patient into being healthier.
The most apparent symptom of Hodgkin disease is a lump near one of the major locations of lymph nodes such as the neck, groin, or armpit. A lump in any of these three locations are also a common symptom in many other cancers or even just a symptom of infection. The article continues stating there are other symptoms of Hodgkin disease, including fever, night sweats, weight loss, itchy skin, being tired, loss of appetite, coughing, troubling breathing, and chest pain. Many of these symptoms lead to the diagnosis of the
Symptoms of skin cancer appear in certain places in the body such as redness in certain areas of the skin, other areas away from the natural redness of the skin.(6) Itching affects certain parts of the skin and it is one of the most important symptoms that show periods of intermittent.(6) continuous skin infections are one of the main symptoms of skin cancer, in addition to blue or red spots that appear on the skin.(6) Also symptoms of skin cancer in young people is having protuberances on the skin.(8) Skin cancer can be cured depending on the size of the tumor, its type, depth and location.(7)
When I think of my best accomplishment the verse from James 3:5 sticks to me. " A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire". Being a part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Club (BCA) for five years at my school and president for the last three has been a journey that I can 't quite put into words. I remember joining the club as a young eighth grader wanting to learn more and do what I could to help as I saw my aunt struggle with it.
Metaphors and myths about illnesses like cancer and tuberculosis constantly besiege people in society according to Susan Sontag in the book Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors. When someone becomes ill with cancer or TB, more often than not, they are negatively associated with the illness. Through Sontag’s medical research, opinions, observations, and viewpoint she dedicates her writing to end the myths that demoralize individuals. Cancer is a disease, not an evil condition that defines someone.
Together we can make a world where cancer no longer means living with fear, without hope, or worse. I alone can’t change the world but I can cast a stone across waters to create many ripples. As soon as diagnosis of cancer is made, a number of questions and emotions flood the patient’s mind. “Why me?” is something which lingers in the mind throughout life.
Palliative Care Simulation Reflection Palliative care is known to be a methodology structured to handle medical cases where patients have life-limiting illnesses (National Cancer Institute, 2018). This approach is often specialized and requires a multidisciplinary team to deliver relief to the patient through the management of physical and mental challenges that come with terminal diagnoses. The objective of this approach is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family (Ferrell, et al., 2007). Evidence based practice has come to support this methodology due to the measureable improvements in these patient’s lives (Kavalieratos, et al., 2016). Often, managing patients with life-limiting disease can present as a challenge,
Participants noted the change in touch from their family and friends prior to diagnosis of their cancer. Some participants found comfort in the changes and some did not. Many participant’s noted a struggle between craving normalcy and familiarity from loved ones and still wanting to feel love and support. One participant reported not letting his mother touch him when he was gravely ill. Another participant noted that her family, particularly her mother and daughter, began to distance themselves from her after her diagnosis.
Being a caregiver is hard work, but Dr. Green and myself, set aside time to provide for those. After months of painful chemotherapy, her aunt decided that she no longer wanted to live with the side effects of chemotherapy. After the death of her aunt, three months later her uncle was diagnosed with
Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Squamous Cell Carcinoma is also found on the body that receives a lot of sun exposure. They, along with Basal Cell Carcinomas, are usually found on the facial region and the hands and may look like a sore that will not heal. Unlike Basal Cell Carcinoma, this type of skin cancer can spread to your lymph nodes. 3. Melanoma: This type of skin cancer shows up in the pigment of the skin.
If you feel that you are at risk of certain kinds of cancer, such as colon cancer, it is important to be knowledgeable of the symptoms involved. Losing weight rapidly and unexpectedly, dark feces and cramping are just a few of the symptoms of colon cancer. If you have any colon cancer symptoms, don't procrastinate about making an appointment. Early detection
Cancer is an abnormal production of cells that divide uncontrollably within the body (Black & Hogan 2006). What is more vaguely understood are the mechanisms the underlie this, the different effects on each patient, and how to stop it. Some common types of cancer are breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, leukemia, and brain cancer. Each of these various diagnoses cause different biological and psychological stresses on the patient. Because old cells do not die and instead grow out of control, often, a mass will form, otherwise known as a tumor.