Esophageal Cancer



Abstract

The paper discusses the lifestyle modification of PEG Tube for a 75 year old person who has a history of esophageal cancer. It highlights barriers to implementation of this lifestyle modification for the person in light of the medical condition of the person. It also discusses the Long and short term benefits of the lifestyle modifications and the reason for the recommendation for his medical condition. It also discusses the daily dietary modification and the purpose of teaching the patient.

Table of Contents

Medical Condition4

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus4

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus4

Barriers to implementing the lifestyle modification5

Long and short term benefits of the lifestyle modifications6

Recommendation for the medical condition7

Social Considerable8

Dietary modifications9

Method of teaching and evaluation9

References11

Esophageal Cancer

Medical Condition

The patient under discussion is 75 years old. He has been suffering from esophageal cancer. In this type of cancer, the esophageal becomes malignant. There are two types of this cancer. Both these types are similar in their treatment and diagnosis. What differs is the look of the cancer. This look of the cancer can be seen only under the microscope. The two cancers are placed at the esophagus's inner side. The two types of cancer are discussed hereunder (Anis, 2006).

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

This type of esophageal cancer appears at the end of the esophagus towards the abdomen. This type of cancer is the most common in the United States of America. The cancer has been known for as long as the early 1970s (Brooks, 2009).

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Unlike the type of cancer discussed earlier, this type of cancer is situated toward the upper side of the esophagus. For some reason, this kind of cancer is less prevalent in the United States of America. However, the worldwide statistics of cancer reveal that this type of cancer is more common than the one discussed earlier.

The patient has difficulty in swallowing. Even if he tries, it hurts him a lot because of the cancer. The medical terms for the two conditions of the patient are Dysphagia and odynophagia respectively. The patient is able to swallow soft food and drinks with difficulty but he has particular issues swallowing something which is bulky or which is hard. Because the patient is having trouble eating, he has been eating very less and has lost a considerable amount of weight. Add to this the fact that patient is 75 years old, his health has declined considerably (Islami, 2009). The diet has reduced because of poor appetite of the patient. The burning feeling is ever present and it worsens when the patient tries to eat something. The patient also coughs a lot. His voice has been affected too.

As a consequence, the doctor thought that it would be appropriate that the doctor advised that the patient may be out on PEG tube which is the feeding tube. Living with a feeding tube means implications on the lifestyle of the patient.

Barriers to implementing the lifestyle modification

PEG is the abbreviation for Percutaneous Endoscopic ...