Post by Ann on Jul 28, 2004 13:05:23 GMT -5
My patient will die from smoking induced lung CA
Privacy laws prevent me from going into any detail that would identify the person I am working with-- however I am seeing a patient at home who has metastasized lung cancer. Today he had a small dry dressing at the base of his throat and I asked if he'd hurt himself. He informed me
the dressing had been applied at the hospital's cancer center because the cancer is finally working its way up through his skin and a small lesion has appeared.
He will probably not make it through the summer. He still smokes. His family is supportive, they will miss him. There is nothing I can do but teach him how to conserve his energy and obtain equipment that will prevent him from falling as he becomes progresively weaker. He will need a tub transfer bench because he will not be able to safely step over the wall of his tub and cartainly will not have the endurance or balance to stay safely standing for an entire shower. He will need a hand held shower which he can easily turn on and off as his grip strength fails. He will need a bedside commode
which he can use for now over the toilet without the bucket to help him steady himself getting up and down off the toilet. He has to sit now to urinate as his endurance is so easily depleted. Later when he cannot walk to the bathroom he will need the commode at bedside. I have to tell his family all of this and its not the first time I've had to do this but this time it seems different. This time I KNOW this person could be me or you.
Betsy
found on QuitNet
Privacy laws prevent me from going into any detail that would identify the person I am working with-- however I am seeing a patient at home who has metastasized lung cancer. Today he had a small dry dressing at the base of his throat and I asked if he'd hurt himself. He informed me
the dressing had been applied at the hospital's cancer center because the cancer is finally working its way up through his skin and a small lesion has appeared.
He will probably not make it through the summer. He still smokes. His family is supportive, they will miss him. There is nothing I can do but teach him how to conserve his energy and obtain equipment that will prevent him from falling as he becomes progresively weaker. He will need a tub transfer bench because he will not be able to safely step over the wall of his tub and cartainly will not have the endurance or balance to stay safely standing for an entire shower. He will need a hand held shower which he can easily turn on and off as his grip strength fails. He will need a bedside commode
which he can use for now over the toilet without the bucket to help him steady himself getting up and down off the toilet. He has to sit now to urinate as his endurance is so easily depleted. Later when he cannot walk to the bathroom he will need the commode at bedside. I have to tell his family all of this and its not the first time I've had to do this but this time it seems different. This time I KNOW this person could be me or you.
Betsy
found on QuitNet
