Psychology 2036A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Colorectal Cancer, Chronic Condition, Metastasis
17 Dec 2017
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Chapter 7
Chronic and Life Threatening Illnesses
Mario attributed fatigue to lack of sleep. Had type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is chronic condition
doesn’t go away or get better. Must learn to cope with them. Change diet and lose weight. "
Chronic condition- a condition that doesn’t go away or get better"
- serious condition that are life threatening and often accompanied by severe symptoms"
Acute Illness- an illness with a defined beginning and end "
-episodic in nature "
Symptoms that are constant produce discouragement and fear"
Lessened or in remission… hope"
Unpredictably erratic… anger and frustration "
Relentlessly progressive… exhaustion and a sense of being overwhelmed "
Cancer
Oncology- the study and treatment of cancer"
Oncologists usually specialize in particular site"
Sites of cancer- types of cancer as defined by the location of the tumour "
Cancer uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Destroy normal cells in process. Form mass
(tumour). "
Metastasized- spread (frequently used to denote the spread of cancer) "
An Unwelcome Diagnosis- "
Annas life changed when lump in her breast was found. Had it spread? Could all cancer be
removed? How would she cope?"
Some Stats "
40% of Canadian women and 45% of men will develop cancer at some point "
1/4 Canadians will die from cancer "
Leading cause of cancer death is lung"
Colorectal cancer second for men and third for women "
Illness Burden for Cancer"
Some view as death sentence others as challenge. Many have strong denial in attempt to
cope. "
Patients must cope with aggressive treatments that have side effects. "
Stigma associated with serious illness- is diminishing people more adept at support "
Cancer burden- physical, psychological and social "
Adolescents with cancer have limitations such as uncle to play sports, fear when headache
arises and limitations to work and life due to poor health "
Physical Problems "
Burden in 60% is physical subcategories- illness caused and treatment caused "
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Fatigue due to chemo "
Cancer pain tends to be untreated explanation- issues with health care system, practitioners
and related to patients and their families "
Ex. Patient fears about building tolerance to analgesic medication and becoming addicted "
Psychological Distress"
Fear and Depression - can become chronic "
Fear recurrence or metastasize, side effects and changes to self image "
Depression- poorer quality of life, less compliance with medical treatment, longer hospital
stays, higher mortality rates"
Psych distress- less NK cells and decreased immune functioning "
Intrusive cognitions- unwanted thoughts, often visual in nature, related to the patients ideas
about cancer and death "
Brewin- cancer patients depressed and not depressed- depressed ones reported intrusive
memories this is less in non depressed "
Emotion- focused coping- coping by focusing on ways to reduce the emotional impact of a
disease without trying to cure it "
- avoid stressors because thinking of them would be upsetting"
Problem- focused coping- coping by actively addressing the stressors associated with a
disease, such as cancer and its treatment "
-seeks information about disease "
Problem focused seems superior as it is viewed as an approach oriented strategy; problems
are faced and dealt with "
Emotion is avoidance orated "
Emotional approach coping- coping by facing emotional responses and dealing effectively with
those responses "
Problem focused- sense of control- patients may engage in self blame should be able to
control something but cant "
Other approaches- fighting spirit, helplessness/ hopelessness, denial, avoidance "
Emotion- focused coping
Problem- focused coping
Objective
Reduce the experience of unpleasant
emotions associated with situation
Learn about the situation in order to
affect factors that are causing the
problem
Coping style
Avoidant
Active
Typical Behaviours
Avoid thinking about situation
Seeking information, following
recommendations and analyzing
factors involved
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Cancer Treatment"
Surgery, radiation, chemo, hormone therapy, or combination of these "
Anna may have surgery to remove part or all of breast. Radiation may be before to reduce size
of tumour and chemo after to treat any cancer that may have spread. "
Hormone- prostate and some breast cancers. When tumour growth is stimulated by presence
of certain hormones, therapy reduces existence of tumour stimulating hormones "
-in prostate cancer this therapy can cause fatigue, diminished sex drive, develop female
secondary sex characteristics such as breasts "
Radical surgery- cancer surgery that requires the removal of a considerable amount of normal
tissue "
-potential to change function and appearance of tissue "
Disfigurement- potential physical result of cancer surgery that can have serious psychological
consequences "
-cancer of head and neck can change face shape, or remove larynx (require prosthetic
speech device) changes sound of voice "
Colorectal cancer- may need prosthetic replacement of colon and need colostomy bag to
collect waste- cant control bowel "
Mastectomy- removal of part of breast "
Radiation therapy- a form of cancer treatment in which radiation is used to shrink or destroy
tumours "
Patients with head and neck tumours may have to undergo preliminary dental work before
radiation- fitted with mask that will hold heads in same position each treatment "
Body mould may be sued for other regions, tattoo of target may be needed "
Suspected that cancer has metastasized or precent this- chemo "
Chemotherapy- treatment used in addition to surgery and/ or radiation therapy when is is
suspected that cancer has metastasized, or to help prevent it from doing so "
Adjuvant therapy- therapy used in conjunction with other therapy "
Rather then attacking specific sites powerful drugs are distributes throughout the body-
unavoidable harm to healthy cells"
Side effects- fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, erosion of oral, gastrointestinal mucosa "
Exercise can reduce fatigue "
Alopecia- hair loss- difficult to deal with- change identity of person "
Anticipatory nausea- nausea that is felt before chemotherapy treatment begin, explained in
terms of classical conditioning and in terms of patients expectations "
Setting of treatment- medical staff, smell etc. can be conditioned stimuli that bring on nausea "
Antiemetic medication- medication intended to reduce nausea and vomiting "
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Document Summary
Diabetes is chronic condition doesn"t go away or get better. Chronic condition- a condition that doesn"t go away or get better. Serious condition that are life threatening and often accompanied by severe symptoms. Acute illness- an illness with a de ned beginning and end. Symptoms that are constant produce discouragement and fear. Relentlessly progressive exhaustion and a sense of being overwhelmed. Sites of cancer- types of cancer as de ned by the location of the tumour. Metastasized- spread (frequently used to denote the spread of cancer) Annas life changed when lump in her breast was found. 40% of canadian women and 45% of men will develop cancer at some point. Colorectal cancer second for men and third for women. Some view as death sentence others as challenge. Many have strong denial in attempt to cope. Patients must cope with aggressive treatments that have side e ects. Stigma associated with serious illness- is diminishing people more adept at support.
