Pregnancy and Breast Cancer - Case Study Example

Pregnancy and Breast Cancer Outline I. Introduction……………………………………………………………...2 II. Case Study……………………………………………………………....2 A. Impact of Breast Cancer………………………………………...2 B. Coping Mechanisms………………………………………….….3 III. Physiology of Pregnancy…………………………………………….….4 IV. Pathophysiology of Breast Cancer……………………………………...4 V. Care for the Affected…………………………………………….………5 VI. Conclusion………………………………………………………………5 VII. References………………………………………………………..…….6 Introduction Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women today. Suffering from cancer alone is quite distressful, but when one has cancer and pregnant at the same time, then that becomes a nightmare. Many women normally have a difficult time coping with the stresses that come with both cancer and pregnancy when they occur at the same time (Berry, Theriault and Holmes, 1999). Below is a case study of a woman who has just discovered that she has breast cancer while in her third trimester. Case Study Impact of Breast Cancer Alice is a 34 year old woman who is 7 months pregnant with twins and has just discovered that she has breast cancer. She and her family were deeply affected when they heard that she has breast cancer just two months before her babies are due. She has to undergo a double mastectomy and deliver her babies earlier than expected so that she can undergo chemotherapy. It has not been easy for Alice since she discovered that she has got cancer which was too advanced to delay treatment. Her biggest worry is her children. She is afraid that early delivery might not be the best option and it might affect the health of the twins. Alice believes that natural nursing is the best way to feed new born babies, but with her breast cancer and chemotherapy waiting, she will not be able to breastfeed her children. She fears that she will be able to bond with them as much as she would have wanted. She is also deeply worried that the treatment might not work at all. She is also concerned about her husband and the rest of her family. She has been having second thoughts about going through the mastectomy since she is afraid that her husband will not find her attractive enough. Everybody is worried for her and they are all trying their best to her their support. Her husband in particular has put almost everything on hold to ensure that Alice and the babies are safe. However, the toll that his wife’s condition is having on his family’s life is sometimes too much as he cannot handle the thought of loosing his wife especially at this moment. The pregnancy, the thought that she might loose her unborn children and the cancer itself are affecting Alice’s health. She cannot perform the duties she used to perform because she gets too exhausted too fast. The condition that Alice is in has put a gloom around her home since everybody is expecting the worst, and yet no one wants that to happen. Her family is hoping that all will turn out well, but there is no denying that anything can happen. Alice and her husband as well as a few members of their immediate family members have been attending counseling sessions in a bid to find ways to cope with the situation without making it more distressful than it is. Coping Mechanisms Perhaps the risk factor that led to Alice getting breast cancer was having twins at age 34. Though this is very hard, she will need all the support that is necessary to aid in her recovery. She is getting a lot of support from her husband and her family. Everybody is eager to make her feel comfortable and as normal as possible. Her husband has dedicated most of his time to help around the house so that Alice gets enough time to rest. The couple also goes for regular counseling sessions. This helps them take off mush of the mental and emotional stress that Alice’s condition has brought on the family. Through counseling, Alice and her husband have learnt to live with the fact that the babies have to be delivered early for her to undergo the required treatment. Physiology of Pregnancy Pregnancy is a long process that starts right from conception to birth. It is a process that causes some physiologic changes in almost all maternal organs. The breasts are some of the organs that are normally affected by hormonal changes during pregnancy. However, these changes are not permanent and the systems normally return to normal after birth. These changes are normally more pronounced in multifetal pregnancies than in single ones. Breast cancer in some pregnancies is normally caused as a result of hormonal changes that cause cells to be malignant. This normally happens to women past the age of thirty who have multifetal pregnancies (Brown, 2007). Pathophysiology of Breast Cancer Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. The cancer starts in the inner lining of the milk ducts in the breasts. Some types of breast cancer cells need two types of hormones to grow: estrogen and progesterone. The treatment of these hormone-sensitive cancers is not as aggressive as the treatment of cancers that do not have hormone receptors (McCance and Huether, 2006). There are several factors that may be attributed to the development of breast cancer: 1. Genetic mutations that are normally linked to estrogen exposure 2. Abnormal growth in stromal and epithelial cells which lead to malignant cell growth 3. Immune system failure to remove malignant cells throughout one’s life 4. Hereditary defects found in DNA repair genes that include BRA1, BRA2 and TP53. The other risk factors include aging, beginning the menstrual cycle before age 12, experiencing menopause after age 55, pregnancy after the age of 30 and multifetal pregnancies (University of Texas M.D, 2010). Care for the Affected The diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy cab be quite devastating for the mother and her family. However, proper care might help alleviate some of the stresses that come with being in such a condition. In many cases, abortion is normally seen as the best option for pregnant women who have got breast cancer (Clark, 1989). Alice is in her mid thirties and pregnant with twins. This may be one of the factors that led to her getting breast cancer. Her case is not out of the ordinary and she need to know that there are great chances of her survival and well being and the survival of her yet to be born babies. I would ensure that she has everything she needs to feel comfortable and live as normally as possible. Although she is afraid that the treatment might not work, it is important to let Alice and others who might in her position to have a positive attitude as this will go a long way in the success of her treatment. Delivering the babies earlier than normal should not be a cause for worry. At seven months, there is no real danger for the twins if they are well taken care of, and the patient needs to know this (Gallenberg and Loprinzi, 1989). Assuring her of the safety of her unborn children will lessen her stress level and this is very important for her treatment. Conclusion Many women who get cancer while pregnant with two or more babies normally go through the same mental, emotional and psychosocial challenges as Alice is going through (Berry, Theriault and Holmes, 1999). Making them have hope is very important. Helping them go through the cancer treatment is also important. They need all the support that they can get from their families, friends and care givers. References Berry, D., Theriault, R., Holmes, F., PArisi, V., Booser, D. Singletary, E., Buzdar, A. and Hortobagyi, G. (1999). “Management of Breast cancer During Pregnancy Using a Standardized Protocol”. Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol. 17(3) 855 Brown, H. (2007). Physiology of Pregnancy. Whitehouse Station, N.J: Merck & Co., Inc. Clark, R.M. (1989). “Breast Cancer and Pregnancy: the Ultimate Challenge”. Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 1(1) 11 – 18. Gallenberg, M. and Loprinzi, C.L. (1989). “Breast Cancer and Pregnancy”. Seminars in Onlcology, Vol. 16(5) 369 – 376. McCance, K.L and huether, S. E. (2006). Pathophysiology: the biologic Basis for disease in Adults and Children, vol. 1. St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier. University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. (2010, March 8). “Most Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients May Not Need Radiation After Mastectomy”. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 8, 2010 from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100306223837.htm Read More