Character of Jason with Burkitts Lymphoma - Essay Example

The case of Jason The main character being analyzed is Jason, the 6 year old kid afflicted with cancer. Jason was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma , a form of cancer that rapidly develops. However, the patient was unaware of this since the first symptom was just a simple tumor in the mouth. Unfortunately, a tumor in his stomach also grew in which biopsy tests revealed that he had Burkitt’s lymphoma. Burkitt’s lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. One of the symptoms of this disease is a facial tumor which was first evident in Jason’s case. Later on, abdominal swelling follows which is a common prevalence among children with Burkitt’s lymphoma. Some people who have AIDS contract Burkitt’s lymphoma since they their immune system is already compromised. Among the most prescribed treatment for this type of rapidly growing disease is chemotherapy and radiation. .The patient was advised to undergo chemotherapy which can assist in eliminating the cancer cells, also, Burkitt’s lymphoma responds quickly to radiation and chemotherapy especially if the patient is still young. In a span of two years, the patient’s life was filled with emotional moments as he struggles with anxiety, sadness, anger, and depression , shock and disbelief which are not uncommon for young patients who have cancer. According to Astin, Shapito and Eisenberg ( 2003) cancer as well as the treatments prescribed greatly affects the patients: 1. body image and appearance 2. energy levels 3. physical, social, and mental functioning 4. intimate relationships and sexuality Since the character was just a young child, his main concern was fear of death. His energy levels had been adversely affected by chemotherapy. The patient experienced severe weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, and the depression of the immune system. For a child, this is a harrowing experience since the treatment itself seems like the disease. It is painful and depressing. Nevertheless, the American Cancer Society in the online article Children Diagnosed With Cancer: Dealing With Diagnosis ( 2005 ) recommends some guidelines that would help a child patient cope with cancer. The suggestions were specifically suited for children ages 6-12 : a) give explanations the child can understand about diagnosis and treatment plan b) include the child as much as possible in discussions about diagnosis and treatment c) answer all questions honestly and in understandable language, including,"Am I going to die?" (talk with cancer care team about how to answer ) d) listen for unasked questions e) offer repeated reassurance that the child is not responsible for his or her cancer f) encourage youngsters to identify feelings g) teach that sadness, anger, and guilt are normal feelings and to talk about them h) encourage expressing feelings, especially anger, and ways how to do that i) use team professionals to intervene or provide strategies for parents to use j) allowing child to keep feelings private, if that is preferred k) suggest personal recording of thoughts, feelings through writing or drawing l) make sure there is fun and pleasure in each day m) arranging for daily physical activity, if possible n) helping the child communicate with siblings, friends, and classmates, if desired o) planning with team members for return to school p) using humor to distract q) arranging contact with other patients to see how they have dealt with diagnosis It is therefore crucial for parents to be honest in dealing with their child about the nature of the disease. The child must be fully informed about his/her situation and must not feel isolated from any information regarding his health. It was also suggested that the patient record his feelings or thoughts through writing or drawing. Fortunately, the patient used this as a coping strategy by writing a book that relates his experience in those two excruciating years of his life as a cancer patient. With the help of his twin brother Tim and an older brother Adam, he was encouraged to write a book that inspires other children who have cancer to have hope. The book is therapeutic in a way for the child since he can deal with his experience squarely and use them productively to help other children too. Again, this is part of the suggestion too that the patient must communicate his experience to others. In cases like this, the goal of counseling is to give hope to children by making them believe that they can overcome the disease. This can be effectively done through individual psychotherapy which is just one of the possible psychological interventions that can be implemented in assisting children with cancer. Other interventions can include cognitive behavioral therapy and group therapy. Giving hope is important to children afflicted from Burkitt’s lymphoma since incidence of this disease among children has a high recovery rate for the reason that the cancer cells, though rapidly growing respond quickly to chemotherapy and radiation. Thus, it is the role of counselor to lift the spirit of the afflicted so the child can hurdle through the painful treatment process. The counselor also provides over-all support to the whole family by explaining to the siblings that the disease is not communicable. Also, the counselor can help relieve the parents from the stress by giving them advice. In cases like these, a counselor is helpful by preventing negative transference from occurring. Imura ( 1991) claims that most therapeutic relationships involve transference. The patient can be angry or hostile to the medical staff since they are associated with the painful treatment. The counselor can then mediate this by consulting other professionals such as the medical or nursing team so they can be aware of the transference that is occurring. In such cases, a nurse can be assigned to other patients so the child would not be emotionally dependent or hostile to the staff. Conclusion Children afflicted with cancer such as Burkitt’s lymphoma undergo a painful process while they are being treated. Nevertheless, this type of cancer that is common among young children is curable especially when treated at an early stage. The disease responds well to chemotherapy and radiation. In addition to this, recovery is faster if the patient has a good coping mechanism like that of the main character in the movie. However, the role of the counselor cannot be undermined since he/she can arrest issues of transference whether positive or negative. Moreover, the counselor can help the child to overcome the painful experience by giving hope. WORKS CITED Astin, JA, Shapiro SL, Eisenberg DM et al. Mind-body medicine: state of the science, implications for practice. J Am Board Fam Med 2003;16:131–47. Children Diagnosed With Cancer: Dealing With Diagnosis.American Cancer Society . Available from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/ CRI_2_6X_Dealing _With_ Diagnosis _7.asp?sitearea=CRI#ages_6-12 Counseling and Psychotherapy. Retrieved from http://www.cancerline.com/2682756/2682758/ on June 10,2009. Imura, S. (1991). Transference and countertransference in nursing. Emphasis Nursing,1, 77-81 Read More