Partnership in Health and Illness

Running head: PARTNERSHIP IN HEALTH AND ILLNESS
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Partnership in Health and Illness
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

PARTNERSHIP IN HEALTH AND ILLNESS 2
Introduction
A survivorship care plan is a record of a person’s cancer, history of treatment, and the
follow-ups tests or checkups that will be very important in the future. The plan may also list
the possible long-term effects of the patient's treatment and ideas for remaining health. The
information in the survivor care plan is critical as it helps the Doctor and his/her patient
understand each other. The plan also includes the time the patient needs to have the follow-up
tests and the doctor responsible for the care. The patient should ensure that the plan is kept
well to ensure they get the required tests on time. The plan will include strategies to prevent
survivorship issues, strategies to education and behavior change and the involved colorectal
cancer signs and symptoms.
Discharge planning
Diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer
Cancer diagnosis can be made through physical examination and various tests such as
biopsy and colonoscopy. In a colonoscopy, the oncologist is allowed to check inside the
rectum and colon and while the patient is in sedation (Maringe et al., 2013). A biopsy
involves the removal of a tissue section to be examined under the microscope. Biopsy could
be done during a colonoscopy or on any tissue which is removed during surgery. Another test
is the blood test. Patient with colorectal cancer may be anemic since cancer often bleeds into
the colon or rectum (Halligan et al., 2013, p.388). Therefore an analysis with the number of
red blood cells that is part of complete blood count indicates occurrence bleeding.
Surgery is the main treatment option for all stages of colorectal cancer. It involves
removal of the tumor and some healthy tissues surrounding cancer during an operation.
There are two types of surgery. Local excision where cancer is cut out using a tube with a
cutting tool by inserting through the colon. Colon resection with anastomosis, which is
performed when the tumor is large (Loupakis et al., 2014, p.60). A partial colectomy is

PARTNERSHIP IN HEALTH AND ILLNESS 3
performed, followed by anastomosis. An anastomosis is the sewing together of the colon
parts. The doctor will then remove the lymph nodes around the colon and examined under the
microscope to detect the presence of any cancer.
The CEA test will be an essential recommended care for John. The CEA test involve a
blood test which identifies the level of CEA protein (Primrose, et al., 2014, p.268). When the
level of CEA is high, it indicates that the tumor has metastasized to other parts of the body
(Nicholson, et al., 2015, 37).The testing of CEA is usually recommended between three to six
months for five years.
John should be referred for colonoscopy and should be seen by a surgeon who is
accredited in the colonoscopy by the Society of Gastroenterology. The referral for John
should be incorporated with the appropriate documentation, including the following; results
of clinical investigations, results of prior investigations, and a notification in case an
interpreter service is needed.
The major symptoms of colorectal cancer are; loss of weight, diarrhea, and belly pain.
The patient may also feel tired than usual (Myers, et al., 2013, P.32). Back pain may also be
experienced if metastasis has occurred. Trouble breathing and loss of appetite are also
experienced by the patient. Sometimes if metastasis has not occurred, the symptoms may not
be there at all.
Collaborative approaches to education and planning for self-management
Physical issues
John, with colorectal cancer, experience a lot of challenges such as changes in body
composition and weight gain, persistent cancer- related fatigue, and other related treatment
problems. John will also experience a lack of concentration and muscle pains. The digestive
functions are also affected hence more troublesome (Duijts, et al., 2013, p.484). Fatigue,
sleep disturbances, and pain are common physical problems experienced by John. For