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1. Breast Cancer and Palliative Care Issues Essay Paper
Breast Cancer and Palliative Care Issues Essay PaperThe purpose of this writing is to
highlight issues of the patient in palliative consideration, which a patient faced throughout
the disease process and at terminal stage of illness. Moreover, it will drag one’s attention
towards some strategies to deal patient with advance cancer.Breast Cancer and Palliative
Care Issues Essay Paper A 54 year old female with known case of ductal cell carcinoma of
left breast, came to the hospital with the complaint of oozing and pain in fungating wound
large in size present at the primary site of tumor. When I encountered the patient, she was
very drowsy and unable to talk due to mouth ulcers that have been developed a week ago.
Upon taking history from the patient’s attendants, they verbalize that the patient got breast
cancer for 1.5 years and since then she was on homeopathic treatment. Moreover, the
patient initially didn’t inform anyone about her disease, not even to her husband. Later,
when symptoms got exacerbate she disclosed her problem to the family members.Breast
Cancer and Palliative Care Issues Essay Paper Consequently, she was taken to a cancer
hospital, where a doctor recommended her for a biopsy. Thus, the results revealed breast
carcinoma. Even after, she didn’t consult to the doctor and continued her homeopathic
medication. While taking care of the patient, I got an opportunity to approach her about the
reasons behind postponement in the diagnosis and the variables that make her condition
decline. One of the reasons she gave in regards to not counseling a specialist or not having a
legitimate treatment was monetary instability, an alternate reason was absence of
awareness with respect to tumor treatment and misconceptions identified with its side
effects. Besides, after a time of 1 year when her condition got crumble and a tumor in her
breast uncovered as fungating wound, a relative took her again to the cancer hospital, from
that point she was referred to the Baitul Sukoon for palliative consideration. The patient
verbalizes torment because of mouth ulcers and as indicated by specialists her tumor has
been metastasized to different parts of the body including liver and brain. Moreover, the
patient likewise expressed that she will give priority to the treatment other than surgery on
the grounds that she is afraid about losing her breast and it will alter her body image. In
addition to it, the patient’s attendant stated that her nutrition pattern has been also effected
which causes weakness.Breast Cancer and Palliative Care Issues Essay Paper The patient
was prepared and very much aware of her condition. For a week she has been on laxatives
and as indicated by the specialist she had developed encephalopathy. Following 2 weeks of
hospitalization; she died because of deteriorated condition.ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE
PAPER HEREBreast cancer is a serious health issue among women throughout the world.

2. According to a consultant at Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital, in Pakistan it is
estimated that 1 in 9 women develops breast cancer once at any stage of their life. Cancer
affects a person not only physically, but also cause spiritual, sexual, and psychological
distress. When considering a physical domain of the patient in palliative care, she was
suffering from pain and mouth ulcers which as a result altered her communication pattern.
On the other hand, she was very drowsy, her dietary intake has also decreased and the
patient has not passed stools for 2 days. Looking forward to the above mentioned
symptoms firstly, mouth sore is among common indications in cancer patient in light of the
fact that when patients are in critical condition, they lack oral hygiene as a result becomes
more prone to infection.Breast Cancer and Palliative Care Issues Essay Paper In addition to
it, infections in cancer patients remain a major complication due to effects of malignancy i.e.
neutropenia. These patients require prompt antibiotics (Bodey, 2004). As the patient
mentioned in the above scenario was getting augmentation. As indicated by literature, oral
cavity plays a vital role in communication and dietary pattern and in cancer patient
alterations in the oral cavity is common because of the certainty of diminished in preventive
consideration (Eilers & Million, 2011). Secondly, impaired oral cavity results in decreased
intake of food that is critical at this stage of cancer. Decline in nutrition is considered normal
at the terminal stage of life as a result malnutrition, cachexia is commonly found in patient
with palliative care (Capra, ferguson, & Ried, 2001). Thirdly, the patient was showing
symptoms of encephalopathy. As literature evidenced that as an outcome of some metabolic
disturbance, encephalopathy is a common clinical syndrome in cancer patients (Lore, Anne,
Patrick, & Simon, 2012). Relating it to the above scenario, the patient has been bed ridden
for 2 months, not passing stool and she has been on laxative since 2 weeks.Breast Cancer
and Palliative Care Issues Essay Paper The purpose of giving laxative was to prevent hyper
ammonia in the body which can cause encephalopathy. According to Willson, Nott,
Broadbridge, & Price (2013) hepatic encephalopathy as a result of liver infiltration is
common among metastatic malignancy.Analyzing the psycho-social factors that becomes
hindrance to care and approach to treatment as part palliative care were fear related to
losing her breast, unawareness of the patient and her family members about disease and
treatment options linked with socio-cultural barriers, financial issues, and preference
towards alternative drugs i.e. homeopathic treatment. According to a research it was found
that patients with breast cancer who consulted a doctor had fear of mastectomies.Breast
Cancer and Palliative Care Issues Essay Paper Firstly, the reason behind fear was lack of
awareness about treatment option available for breast cancer such as procedures that are
less invasive like lumpectomies. Due to the fact, women avoid availing proper check up and
maintained non-compliance to the cancer therapy (Memon et al., 2013). Secondly, among
socio-cultural barriers, lack of information related to disease due to low education reported
by women. This ultimately delays the approach to health care, even with prominent signs
and symptoms of a disease such as nodule, edema and erythema. One of the reasons behind
avoidance is social myths, society including friends and family gives different meaning to
these symptoms, which minimize its seriousness.ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER
HEREMoreover, cultural barriers have strong impact on getting awareness related to breast
cancer. According to Banning, Hassan, Faisal, & Hafeez (2010) many Asian women do not

3. perform self breast examination because of a taboo related to touching own body parts,
feeling embarrassment to discuss intimate body parts and to consult a male physician.
According to literature myths around the pathology of breast cancer causes late diagnosis
and hindrance to care (Goncalves et al., 2014).Breast Cancer and Palliative Care Issues
Essay Paper Thirdly, cancer treatment is considered financially devastating burden to the
family because they have to pay for the treatment by themselves (Daher, 2012). Therefore,
initiating treatment becomes psychologically distressing for the patient and for the family.
Relating it to the scenario, the patient didn’t disclose her problem to the family member due
to myths and unawareness related to disease. Lastly, in my opinion the main factor that
contributes to delay in diagnosis and worse the patient’s condition was preferences for
homeopathic medicine and this again could be linked with lack of awareness related to the
availability of treatment options. According to a research it’s commonly reported that
individual with cancer seek alternative medicine due to misconception associated with
treatment options (Daher, 2012). Moreover, unconventional methods, including traditional
herbal medicine and healers over doctors for cancer treatment also reported in a study of
women associated with delay seeking medical advice (Memon et al., 2013).Numerous
factors contribute towards, delay and obstruction in treatment of breast malignancy. In
terms of prioritize the variables that add to delay in diagnosis were unawareness related to
the options available for treatment, socio-cultural hindrances, choosing alternative
medicine, and financial issues.Breast Cancer and Palliative Care Issues Essay Paper On
individual level health professionals must respect autonomy of the patient and inclination
of treatment. It is one’s obligation to explain potential harm of such alternative treatment.
Besides, when health care prrovider experience patients with breast tumor, they should
explain its risk factors and preventive measures to the patient and their family members for
precautionary purpose. On hospital level, staff should be well trained to deal cross culturally
and care for the patient with interdisciplinary aspects and according to patients’ needs.
These can include care according to patient’s comfortability level, counseling patient’s
family regarding disease and helping them to select suitable and appropriate treatment
options. Moreover, the Government should organize an awareness program to educate the
patient with respect to primary prevention, which includes awareness related to self breast
examination, treatment options that are less invasive as a secondary prevention and
tertiary prevention that should include the concept of palliative care, and information about
the institution that provide palliative and hospice care. On the other hand, female health
care professionals should be given first priority to be trained to deal with culturally
sensitive issues. Together, these contributions can help to eradicate issues related to breast
cancer and will support patients suffering from it.Breast Cancer and Palliative Care Issues
Essay PaperORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HEREReferencesBanning,M., Hassan,M.,
Faisal,S., & Hafeez,H. (2010). Cultural interrelationships and the lived experience of
Pakistani breast cancer patients.European Journal of Oncology Nursing.
doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2010.05.001B-Articles. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk/news-a-events/events/228.htmlBODEY,G. (1986).
Infection in cancer patients: A continuing association.American Journal of Medicine.
doi:10.1016/0002-9343(86)90510-3 Breast Cancer and Palliative Care Issues Essay

4. PaperCapra,S., Ferguson,M., & Ried,K. (2001). Cancer: impact of nutrition intervention
outcome—nutrition issues for patients.Nutrition. doi:10.1016/S0899-9007(01)00632-
3Daher,M. (2012). Cultural beliefs and values in cancer patients.Annals of Oncology.
doi:10.1093/annonc/mds091Eilers,J., & Million,R. (2011). Clinical Update: Prevention and
Management of Oral Mucositis in Patients with Cancer.Seminars in Oncology Nursing.
doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2011.08.001Gonçalves,L.C., Travassos,G.L., Almeida,A.M.,
Guimarães,A.N., & Gois,C.F. (2014). Barriers in health care to breast cancer: perception of
women*. Retrieved from DOI: 10.1590/S0080-623420140000300002 Breast Cancer and
Palliative Care Issues Essay PaperKingsley,C. (2010).Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors
Affecting Cancer Screening, Early Detection and Care in the Latino Population.Lore,L.,
Anne,S., Patrick,S., & Simon,V.B. (2012). Neoplasm Related Encephalopathies. InMiscellanea
on Encephalopathies – A Second Look(pp.91-120). INTECH Open Access
Publisher.Memon,Z.A., Shaikh,A.N., Rizwan,S., & Sardar,M.B. (2013). Reasons for Patient’s
Delay in Diagnosis of Breast Carcinoma in Pakistan. Retrieved from
DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.12.7409Willson,K.J., Nott,L.M.,
Broadbridge,V.T., & Price,T. (2013). Hepatic Encephalopathy Associated With Cancer or
Anticancer Therapy.Gastrointest Cancer Research,6(1), 11-16. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3597933/Breast Cancer and Palliative
Care Issues Essay Paper