Case Study Analysis: Isabella's Ill Health - QU025400 Management

This assignment presents a comprehensive case study analysis focusing on a 46-year-old Hispanic woman named Isabella, who is experiencing symptoms suggestive of type 2 diabetes and potential breast cancer. The analysis delves into Isabella's symptoms, including fatigue, slow wound healing, excessive thirst, and frequent urination, and explores the underlying physiological mechanisms of these symptoms in relation to diabetes. The study also examines the signs of potential breast cancer, such as a growth in her armpits and increased fever, and discusses the available treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. Furthermore, the assignment explores the psychological and social impacts of both diabetes and cancer on the individual, their families, and social circles, including the effects of depression, anxiety, and the need for supportive care. The assignment concludes by outlining the support needs of both diabetes and cancer patients, covering aspects of healthy eating, support groups, medical appointments, financial support, and psychotherapy, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to managing these chronic illnesses.

Running head: CANCER AND DIABETES 1
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CANCER AND DIABETES 2
Question one
Some of the symptoms that Isabella is experiencing are an indication that she has type
two diabetes. Diabetes makes a person feel fatigued despite not doing any work. This
happens because high glucose in the blood interferes with the ability of the body to
use glucose to generate energy and hence the tiredness (Singer, 2018). The slow
healing of the wound occurs due to the reduced flow of blood in the various body
cells and thus causing slow healing. This happens due to high levels of glucose in the
blood. Excess thirst and constant urination occur due to excess levels of glucose in the
blood, which forces kidneys to work extra to filter and absorb excess glucose. The
other signs and symptoms of type two diabetes include; blurred vision, unexpected
increase in weight or weight loss, feeling hungry often, gums get red and become
swollen, numbness, and tingling feeling on the feet and hands. Understanding the
symptoms of diabetes at an early stage helps in timely diagnosis and treatment, which
helps in avoiding complications associated with the disease.
Diabetes is managed and treated through several interventions. One way of managing
diabetes is through weight loss. This works by lowering blood sugar levels and hence
reducing the risk of the disease. Healthy eating also helps in treating diabetes since it
ensures that a person consumes foods that are low in sugar and calories (McMacken
and Shah, 2017). Physical exercises are vital in managing type two diabetes since they
help in lowering the levels of sugar in the blood. Additionally, the treatment of
diabetes requires medication, which should be described by the doctor depending on
the level of sugar in the blood.
The growth in Isabella`s armpits could be a sign of breast cancer. This is because
cancer cells attack lymph nodes, and they may not show any symptoms of breast

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cancer. The increase in fever could mean that cancer has begun to spread to other
tissues and hence the need for biopsy.
The signs and symptoms of breast cancer include a hard lump or mass around the
breast, swelling around the breast, collarbone or the armpit, as well as breast warmth
and itching (Caruso et al., 2017). The other symptoms of breast cancer include
thickening of the skin around the breast, redness of the skin, nipple discharge as well
as pain around the breast. There are several treatment options available for breast
cancer patients like Isabella. One of the options is surgery to remove the cancerous
tissues. This is especially recommended for cancer, which is at the initial stages and
has not advanced. Some types of surgery available to patients include lumpectomy
and mastectomy. More significant diseases are treated using chemotherapy, hormonal
therapy, or radiation therapy.
Question two
Diabetes results in depression. Research indicates that people who have diabetes type
two are three times more likely to get depression as compared to a person who has no
diabetes (Asuzu et al., 2017). So people who have diabetes tend to suffer from poor
mental health, and this is mostly attributed to constant worry about the disease and
hence causing psychological distress. The social effects of diabetes on the individual
are that it requires the patient to adhere to a strict social life, which may affect the
social life of an individual. The restrictions include no taking of alcohol, and the diet
may also make it challenging to eat in social places or restaurants.
Diabetes also affects family, friends, and other persons related to the patient
psychologically. The other people, especially those caring for a person with diabetes,
may experience emotional distress due to the changes in the mood of the person with

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diabetes (Upadhyay et al., 2018). The person with diabetes may get angry quickly and
may constantly quarrel with the people around them, and hence it might cause them
emotional distress. Diabetes also causes anxiety among family members because of
the serious health concerns associated with the disease. Therefore, people around the
person with the illness are anxious about what might happen in the future (Maskarinec
et al., 2019).
Cancer causes shock and anxiety among people who have been diagnosed with the
disease. This happens because many people imagine that cancer is untreatable, and
hence they have a few very days on earth, something which is not valid. Cancer also
causes depression among 16-25% of people who have been diagnosed with the
disease (Alexander et al.,2019). The psychological impact of the disease might affect
the social life of a person since they tend to isolate themselves. The family and carer
of the cancer patient are also affected, especially in cases where the disease has
progressed, and the patient is suffering.
The support needs of diabetes patients include; healthy eating, attending a diabetes
support group, attending doctors' appointments, constant monitoring of blood sugar,
exercising, being free of stress/ anger. These needs can be met by having a supportive
family, which ensures that the patient gets the needed diet, and there are no issues that
might affect them psychologically. The patient also needs to adhere to the medical
guidelines.
Cancer patients need access to treatment, which may include surgery, radiation, and
chemotherapy. The treatment is costly, and hence the patient needs a sound financial
support system. Cancer patients also need a supportive family and psychotherapy to
help them cope with the stress of being diagnosed with the illness (Kalter et al., 2018).

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The treatment needs can be met by having a comprehensive medical cover that can
cater for the cost of treatment. The family and close friends need to offer moral
support to the patient to ensure that they don’t fall into depression.

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References
Alexander, A., Kaluve, R., Prabhu, J.S., Korlimarla, A., Srinath, B.S., Manjunath, S.,
Patil, S., Gopinath, K.S. and Sridhar, T.S., 2019. The impact of breast cancer on the
patient and the family in Indian perspective. Indian journal of palliative care, 25(1),
p.66.
Asuzu, C.C., Walker, R.J., Williams, J.S. and Egede, L.E., 2017. Pathways for the
relationship between diabetes distress, depression, fatalism and glycemic control in
adults with type 2 diabetes. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 31(1), pp.169-
174.
Caruso, R., Nanni, M.G., Riba, M.B., Sabato, S. and Grassi, L., 2017. The burden of
psychosocial morbidity related to cancer: patient and family issues. International
Review of Psychiatry, 29(5), pp.389-402.
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Maskarinec, G., Shvetsov, Y.B., Conroy, S.M., Haiman, C.A., Setiawan, V.W. and Le
Marchand, L., 2019. Type 2 diabetes as a predictor of survival among breast cancer
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McMacken, M. and Shah, S., 2017. A plant-based diet for the prevention and
treatment of type 2 diabetes. Journal of geriatric cardiology: JGC, 14(5), p.342.

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Singer, S., 2018. Psychosocial impact of cancer. In Psycho-Oncology (pp. 1-11).
Springer, Cham.
Upadhyay, J., Polyzos, S.A., Perakakis, N., Thakkar, B., Paschou, S.A., Katsiki, N.,
Underwood, P., Park, K.H., Seufert, J., Kang, E.S. and Sternthal, E., 2018.
Pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes: an update. Metabolism, 78, pp.13-42.