case study on cancer

Case Study Posting Requirements

  • Make sure all of the topics in the case study have been addressed.
  • Cite at least three sources; journal articles, textbooks, or evidenced-based websites to support the content.
  • All sources must be within five years.
  • Do not use .com, Wikipedia, or up-to-date, etc., for your sources

Case study #3

Kevin worked for 10 years at a uranium mine, excavating uranium for a nearby nuclear power plant. Now, 25 years later, he has small cell lung cancer. Kevin is anorexic and has lost a considerable amount of weight. His muscles are wasting, and he is weak. He tries to move around the house throughout the day but tires easily. It has been difficult for him to access care, and the treatment for his cancer is just starting.

  • With the ongoing exposure to the ionizing radiation, DNA damage occurred. Outline the three stages of carcinogenesis that occurred after his exposure to radiation.
  • Kevin is normally a fit and active man, and his wife often commented on how much food he used to eat after a day at mine. Why would there be muscle wasting and weight loss now? Explain your answer using your knowledge of the metabolic changes seen with cancer.
  • In some cancer patients, muscle weakness may result from the production of onconeural antigens. Describe the effects of these antigens. What form would this process likely take in Kevin’s situation?

Expert Solution Preview

Introduction: This case study involves Kevin, who worked at a uranium mine and now has small cell lung cancer. The following are the answers to the questions provided in the content.

1. With the ongoing exposure to ionizing radiation, DNA damage occurred. Outline the three stages of carcinogenesis that occurred after his exposure to radiation.

After exposure to radiation, the three stages of carcinogenesis that occurred are initiation, promotion, and progression. Initiation is the initial damage to DNA caused by exposure to ionizing radiation. Promotion is the growth of mutated cells due to exposure to promoting agents. Progression is the transformation of abnormal cells to become malignant and form a tumor, which can metastasize and invade nearby tissues.

2. Kevin is normally a fit and active man, and his wife often commented on how much food he used to eat after a day at the mine. Why would there be muscle wasting and weight loss now? Explain your answer using your knowledge of the metabolic changes seen with cancer.

Muscle wasting and weight loss are common symptoms in cancer patients due to metabolic changes. Cancer cells require a lot of energy to grow, and they can alter the body’s metabolism to favor the breakdown of muscle and fat tissues. This process, known as cachexia, results in weight loss and muscle wasting as the body tries to maintain energy levels. Additionally, cancer can cause inflammation, leading to a decrease in appetite and a feeling of fullness, which can contribute to weight loss.

3. In some cancer patients, muscle weakness may result from the production of onconeural antigens. Describe the effects of these antigens. What form would this process likely take in Kevin’s situation?

Onconeural antigens are found in the nervous system and are typically produced in response to tumors. In some cancer patients, these antigens can cause an immune response that attacks the nervous system, resulting in muscle weakness, ataxia, and sensory disturbances. In Kevin’s case, it is unclear if the cancer has affected the nervous system, so onconeural antigens are not a likely cause of muscle weakness. However, cancer-induced cachexia and the associated metabolic changes are likely the primary cause of his muscle weakness and weight loss.

Share This Post

Email
WhatsApp
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Reddit

Order a Similar Paper and get 15% Discount on your First Order

Related Questions

WU Detail and Dynamic Complexity Discussion Nursing Assignment Help

Are you overwhelmed by complexity? If so, you are not alone. Peter Senge notes that people are now able to “create far more information that anyone can absorb,” and he continues to say that the “scale of complexity is without precedent” (2006, p. 69). This “detail” complexity can make managing

Pediatric Health & Medical Worksheet Nursing Assignment Help

Provider: i. Questions for HPI When did these symptoms begin? Is the child experience exercise intolerance? Any shortness of breath/signs of respiratory distress? History of genetic conditions? ii. Questions for ROS Poor feeding? Any newborn cardiac concerns? Previous cardiac history? Any pain, weakness, coldness to the extremities? Fluid retention? Cough

Health & Medical Capital Budgeting at Cleveland Clinic Nursing Assignment Help

Respond to each of the following prompts or questions: Using the information provided in the Los Reyes Hospital case study from Module Three, what capital expenditures may the selected departments need to budget? Considering the organization you selected, what is a capital expenditure that may be needed that would result

NVCC Service Implementation and Elements of Financial Nursing Assignment Help

Instructions: Part 1 1.Read Chapter 10, Capko. -Critique either Dr. Grainger’s or Mid-South Pulmomary Specialists efforts in developing  new services. -What lessons did you learn as related to new service development?   -List three main items which you must address before implementing a new service.  Instructions: Part 2 -The physicians

Healthcare is reimbursed in a variety of ways. The Nursing Assignment Help

Healthcare is reimbursed in a variety of ways. The prospective payment method is one of those ways. This paper will be about the prospective payment method where diagnosis-related groupings (DRGs) forms the basis for payment. Research and explain the origin, purpose, and description of DRGs. Include what payment is based on.

NUR 630 FIU Impact on Healthcare Systems and Public Health Nursing Assignment Help

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, or Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia In recent years, there have been reports linking autism to vaccinations. After studying Module 5: Lecture Materials & Resources, address the following in a well-written discussion post: Explain the controversy regarding vaccines as a possible cause of autism spectrum disorder. Does the