Understanding the Perceptions of Patients with Chronic Illness and at End Stage of Life: A Case Study of Cathy's Breast Cancer Story

Running head: NRSG353 1
Assessment Task One-Case Study
(Author’s name)
(Institutional Affiliation)

NRSG353 2
The article presents a case story of a 67 years old female patient
named Cathy who is currently under palliative care due to breast cancer. Her
condition has progressed up to stage four breast cancer. Cathy was first
diagnosed with breast cancer when she was at 50 years old which made her
undergo several surgical operations for a period of two years. These
surgeries included a double mastectomy and removal of ovaries. Cathy was
emotionally affected during the surgical operations which were occurring one
after the other. She could not rest and only hoped all the surgeries could be
over soon. The treatment process did not involve surgical operations only but
also, she had to undergo a number of radiations. After undergoing surgery
and a number of therapeutic radiations, the prognosis of the disease did not
go very well which made her to be put under a chemotherapy regiment.
However, after seven years, her chemotherapy treatment ceases to
work and therefore the doctors had to change to a better treatment option
after several trials. Due to this reason, she started fearing surgical
operations wondering what next could be removed from her body. Cathy
have been struggling with painful symptoms since diagnosed with stage four
breast cancer in the year2012. Most of her common symptoms include hair
loss, joint pain, and depression. Constant medication changes, cancer scans,
thought of possible more surgical operation, and constant doctors’
appointments has brought Cathy to her breaking point. However, Cathy
enjoys working at the garden and walking saying she will take her limited