Case Study: Definition, Examples, Types, and How to Write

Running head: CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
CASE STUDY
Cancer is regarded as one of the life-threatening diseases and that happen to anyone.
The disease does not occur biologically but can also occur due to environmental pollution.
The primary aim of the essay is to discuss the pathophysiology of cancer tumor as well as
colorectal cancer and what therapies can be used to cure the disease.
Response 1
Pathophysiology of cancer tumor is the unregulated increase of cancer cells in the
body of an individual. Cancer cells grow as well as divide uncontrollably that ultimately
leads to tumor cells, the growth of tumor cells also leads to a lot of abnormalities within the
body (Sykes et al., 2016). A tumor is the abnormal accumulation of cells that can be both
benign as well as malignant. A benign tumor remains in its original location and does not
invade the surrounding tissue, whereas a malignant tumor invades the surrounding tissues and
spreads throughout the body (Quer et al., 2017). It is these types of tumors that are known as
cancer cells since they have the capacity to harm the body of the person and cause
abnormalities. The progression of the tumor cells continues due to the additional mutation of
cells within the body. Hormones especially estrogens are responsible for the development of
tumor cells in the body (Cabral et al., 2016). Similarly chemicals as well as radiation can also
be the reason behind the development of cancer cells within the body. In the pathophysiology
of cancer tumor the latter continues to move once it comes in contact with the neighbouring
cells and thus begins to grow in a disorderly manner (Rajpoot et al., 2018). Thus the
pathogenesis of cancer tumor may be defined as the process of transforming the normal ratio
of the cell into a tumor cell. They have unrestrained growth and work independently. These
tumors can take place in any part of the body and gradually affect the other organs that might
lead to many organ failure (Rajpoot et al., 2018).
Colorectal Cancer

2
CASE STUDY
Colorectal cancer primarily originates from the epithelial cells that lines either the colon or
the rectum of the gastrointestinal tract. Thus type of cancer mainly arises due to two kinds of
polyps- conventional adenomas and the serrated adenomas. This cancer affects the digestive
system of the body as it develops in the tracts of the digestive system (Siegel et al., 2017).
The polyps that has been mentioned above initially remains benign but soon transforms into
cancerous tumors (Siegel et al., 2017). The same has happened with the case of Betty where
due to colorectal cancer she is suffering from problems in her bowel system as well as
diarrhea. After Betty goes through a series of tests it is confirmed after her biopsy that she is
suffering from adenomcarcinoma of the descending colon. Oncological treatment begins for
Betty where she has to attend the treatment in intervals. Chemotherapy is advised for Betty
after which she suffers from severe vomiting and nausea. She also checks her temperature
regularly to keep the infection in check. Due an infection her temperature rises significantly
that might further affect her health. When she further undergoes test it is found that she has
urinary infections too (Clarke et al., 2016). This may have happened after the biopsy report
where she had to take intensive chemotherapy sessions that may have caused neutropenic
sepsis (Clarke et al., 2016). Therefore, Betty became vulnerable to infection and health
deteriorated. In this type of situation rectal examination should be avoided and this is why
Betty was advised to take a course of antibiotics under close monitoring so that her
chemotheraphy sessions can start soon (Clarke et al., 2016). All this has happened because
the colorectal cancer had spread a lot.
Chemotherapy
From the case study it is clear that Betty’s health is deteriorating after taking the
chemotherapy and she is also suffering from urinary infection which means she cannot go
forward with the same type of chemotherapy as it has already taken a toll on her. Thus one
chemotherapy that can applied in the case of Betty is adjuvant chemotherapy (Grothey et al.,