Patient Encounter and Article Summary
People with illnesses that have a long-lasting effect on their physical health can develop psychological issues as well. In some cases, such delicate problems severely affect individuals’ mental health and lead to them developing such conditions as depression or anxiety. One such encounter in my practice involved a female patient who survived head cancer. Before therapy, cancer caused some facial disfigurement that was visible. The woman stated that while her post-treatment was rather successful, her mood and emotional stability did not improve. She also commented that her interaction with relatives, friends, and even other medical professionals has changed after she developed cancer. Taylor (2016) finds that many causes of distress exist for patients who have survived head and neck cancer. First of all, individuals with the HPV-positive type of cancer can face stigma associated with their behavior, leading them to feel shame and embarrassment. Second, facial disfigurement becomes a cause of low self-esteem, body image issues, and social anxiety. Surgery that is sometimes needed to treat cancer also may alter people’s appearance, change their communicative abilities and limit their independence. Taylor (2016) points out that holistic care which includes education, emotional support, and social training is crucial for helping such patients.
Strategies
The strategies that I employed followed the guidelines expressed by Taylor. It is imperative to make the patient feel comfortable to let them speak about past and present experiences. The subject of facial disfigurement is often viewed as unpleasant by people, thus making individuals with some changes in appearance self-conscious. By educating the patient, her family, and loved ones about the existing stigma, one can make them more aware of the problems that the individual with cancer can encounter. Thus, I utilized my resources to talk to the patient’s relatives to ensure that they understood the significance of being supportive and open. Furthermore, interaction with the patient and encouragement of self-care are also essential in providing her with the tools to become more confident in her appearance. Looking at oneself can help come into terms with one’s changes. Other strategies that could have been used include additional support to socialize and effective management of the patient’s distress. Interaction with other people, especially strangers, may help cancer survivors to learn that their appearance does not change their personality and mental abilities. These aspects may be relevant to some patients who are afraid of being perceived as less qualified or capable individuals.
Advocacy and Implications
Advocacy for head and neck cancer survivors lies in communication with other people and the removal of the negative stigma associated with the condition. As Moubayed et al. (2015) state, depression is prevalent in cancer survivors, and it can be predicted based on people’s social surroundings and behavior. Thus, it is necessary to raise awareness about the issues that individuals with cancer face on a daily basis. People should recognize that facial disfigurement is a factor that should not change one’s opinion of a person. Moreover, they should not use one’s insecurity to establish social norms, suggesting corrective facial surgery as the only way to deal with mental health problems (Rifkin et al., 2018). While the patient should be made aware of this option, it should not be distinguished or described as more reliable than others. One of the main ethical implications for nurses who care for patients with head and neck cancer lies in the ability to provide not only medical but also social support. Encouragement and respectful behavior positively affects mental well-being which can be considered as a part of nurses’ duty to preserve patients’ health.
References
Moubayed, S. P., Sampalis, J. S., Ayad, T., Guertin, L., Bissada, E., Gologan, O. E.,… Christopoulos, A. (2015). Predicting depression and quality of life among long-term head and neck cancer survivors. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, 152(1), 91-97.
Rifkin, W. J., Kantar, R. S., Ali-Khan, S., Plana, N. M., Diaz-Siso, J. R., Tsakiris, M., & Rodriguez, E. D. (2018). Facial disfigurement and identity: A review of the literature and implications for facial transplantation. AMA Journal of Ethics, 20(4), 309-323.
Taylor, S. (2016). The psychological and psychosocial effects of head and neck cancer. Cancer Nursing Practice, 15(9), 33-37.