3. Rachel is a 25-year-old woman has been married for the past two years. She and her husband have decided to have children, but Rachel began having menstrual problems. After seeing a doctor, Rachel was diagnosed with uterine cancer.
What reactions may occur in clients diagnosed with cancer?
After treatment, Rachel learns that she cannot have children. What kind of psychological impact can infertility have?
a) Reactions in a client diagnosed with cancer:
The reactions to a diagnosis of cancer may vary from person to person, depending on their general psychological coping mechanisms to stressful situations, their attitude to life, support from family and friends etc. Each person reacts in their own way. But, as a general rule, there are certain stages through which an individual passes on.
1. Denial: The first reaction might be denial and the person may feel that the diagnosis might be wrong. They hope to get a negative diagnosis with more diagnostic procedures or to go to another hospital for a different diagnosis possibility.
2. Anger: After the first denial stage, the person will go through the anger stage. They may feel anger to the world as a whole. If they are spiritual, might be angry to the Creator for giving them such a disease. They feel why they had such a disease, though they did not do anything wrong and why got such a punishment from God. This thoughts will make them angry.
3. Sorrow and Depression: The next stage is the sorrow or depression stage. It is normal to feel sad and grieve over the physical, familial, social and financial changes that a cancer brings. The person’s emotions and mood can change from day to day. Some may become withdrawn and isolated from family and friends.
4. Acceptance: Finally, they will be ready to accept the reality and ready to undergo the necessary treatments. They will regain their mental strength and resilience. They will be ready to live with the diagnosis and to face the situation. They will be at peace with themselves and with the world. Will be ready to set priorities in life and to spend their days with maximum happiness and willing to participate in group activities and help others going through similar situations.
In summary, a person with cancer may go through emotions like; denial, fear from the uncertainty of the prognosis , anger and guilty feelings, sadness, frustration, mood swings, resentment, a sense of being isolated from others, loneliness and grief. Finally, they will become hopeful and seek ways that can help them to maintain their health and well being.
Psychological Impact of Infertility:
Infertility will have a major impact on the patient since she is newly married and they were hoping to get a baby when the unexpected and shocking diagnosis was made. Infertility may have social and psychological problems. In some societies, being a mother and taking care of children is the most important role of women. There will be relationship problems among couples due to infertility. There might be reduced self-esteem and feelings of failure since she can not become a mother and can not offer a baby to her husband and family. This may cause severe emotional breakdown. She might have anxiety, fear, depression, grief and feeling of guilty. In some cultures, having children is the basis of a healthy and happy family life. Some are considering marriage as a fundamental life event to get their own children and thus to have next generations for their family. Infertility will be a major emotional and social turmoil for such families. in such societies, even some family members or friends may advise the husband to undergo divorce and to marry another lady who can give him a baby. The couple may feel socially isolated and feel depressed to see others having new born babies.
3. Rachel is a 25-year-old woman has been married for the past two years. She and...
3. Rachel is a 25-year-old woman has been married for the past two years. She and her husband have decided to have children, but Rachel began having menstrual problems. After seeing a doctor, Rachel was diagnosed with uterine cancer. What reactions may occur in clients diagnosed with cancer? After treatment, Rachel learns that she cannot have children. What kind of psychological impact can infertility have?
Discussion Topics, Mohr Chapter 39, Clients With Medical Illnesses Discussion Topics Learning Objective 1. While working in a hospital, you have a patient admitted to the floor that is displaying signs of psychological disturbance. Would you feel differently about a client who has a psychological disturbance secondary to a medical condition compared to a client that does not have a medical condition? Would you care for these two clients any differently? Think of a time when you or a family...
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Pamela Allen is a 65-year-old woman who has been married to Clifford for 40 years. Their only child, Gary, has Down syndrome and lives with them. Mrs. Allen stopped working outside the home after Gary was born to care for him. She has recently been diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer and had surgery last month (colectomy and colostomy). Because the tumor extended into the perineum and lymph nodes, she has been advised to start radiation and chemotherapy. She underwent treatment...
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