Breast Cancer
FUNDAMENTAL Reasoning
Case Study
, History of Present Problem
• Jan Leisner is a 50-year-old Caucasian woman who has been
healthy with no previous medical history. One year ago, she
noted a small palpable lump in her right breast about the size of
an almond. Because she has been healthy, she assumed it was
nothing and ignored it.
• Over the last month she has noted that this lump has been
increasing in size. Her mammogram confirmed a 5 cm mass. An
ultrasound biopsy confirmed the presence of cancer cells in the
tumor as well as in three of her lymph nodes most proximal to the
tumor. An MRI scan that followed revealed a 1 cm tumor on her
lumbar spine
.
• She is not a surgical candidate at this time, so an implanted
venous access device (VAD) will be placed later this afternoon so
that chemotherapy can be started as soon as possible. You are
the nurse responsible for her care on the oncology unit of a
community hospital.
, Personal/Social History
• Jan has four children under the age of 17. She has no
personal or family history of breast cancer. She has
never smoked and lives with her husband in a
suburban community. She works part-time as a
substitute teacher.
• Jan is a devout Christian who has a strong faith and
trust in God. She also believes in the power of prayer
and believes that God can heal her. She chose to
have a mammogram just before her husband’s
insurance plan expired because he just lost his job.
FUNDAMENTAL Reasoning
Case Study
, History of Present Problem
• Jan Leisner is a 50-year-old Caucasian woman who has been
healthy with no previous medical history. One year ago, she
noted a small palpable lump in her right breast about the size of
an almond. Because she has been healthy, she assumed it was
nothing and ignored it.
• Over the last month she has noted that this lump has been
increasing in size. Her mammogram confirmed a 5 cm mass. An
ultrasound biopsy confirmed the presence of cancer cells in the
tumor as well as in three of her lymph nodes most proximal to the
tumor. An MRI scan that followed revealed a 1 cm tumor on her
lumbar spine
.
• She is not a surgical candidate at this time, so an implanted
venous access device (VAD) will be placed later this afternoon so
that chemotherapy can be started as soon as possible. You are
the nurse responsible for her care on the oncology unit of a
community hospital.
, Personal/Social History
• Jan has four children under the age of 17. She has no
personal or family history of breast cancer. She has
never smoked and lives with her husband in a
suburban community. She works part-time as a
substitute teacher.
• Jan is a devout Christian who has a strong faith and
trust in God. She also believes in the power of prayer
and believes that God can heal her. She chose to
have a mammogram just before her husband’s
insurance plan expired because he just lost his job.
