Download Activity 3.3.1: Diary of A Cancer Patient Introduction

Activity 3.3.1: Diary of A Cancer Patient
Introduction
The oncologists have informed Mike Smith that they will try to shrink the tumor in his
proximal humerus with chemotherapy. The osteosarcoma has not metastasized, or
spread to other areas of his body, and doctors want to be aggressive about keeping
the cancer localized. The overall goal of all cancer treatments is to rid the body of
cancerous tissue either by destroying or removing tumor cells. If doctors can shrink
Mike’s tumor using chemotherapy, they will be more successful in surgery to remove
the mass and save Mike’s arm.
While he is an inpatient in the hospital, Mike shares a room with a 14-year-old young
man named Charlie. Charlie has been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer
of the soft tissue that has manifested as a tumor around his left eye. Doctors have
been able to reduce the size of the tumor with chemotherapy; however, they want to
add in radiation therapy to try to fully destroy the mass. Mike and Charlie spend
hours together in the hospital and discuss their cancers. On occasion, they even
accompany one another to treatment sessions just to keep each other company.
Mike and Charlie have decided to write down in a diary or blog their experiences
during treatment. They want young men and women their age to know what cancer
treatment is really like. They hope that someone can learn from their experiences or
at least be comforted by the fact that they are not alone in the battle against cancer.
In this activity, you will follow Mike and Charlie through chemotherapy and radiation
treatment and write journal entries or a blog, a web journal, chronicling their
experiences.
Equipment


Computer with Internet access
Laboratory journal
Procedure
1. Use the sources listed below and other reliable Internet sites you may find to
research chemotherapy and radiation therapy and to complete Steps 2-3.
o WebMD – Questions and Answers about Chemotherapy
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/questions-answerschemotherapy
o Mayo Clinic – Chemotherapy
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chemotherapy/CA00029
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MI Activity 3.3.1 Diary of a Cancer Patient – Page 1
o Nemours Foundation: Kids Health – Chemotherapy
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/medical_care/chemo.html
o American Cancer Society – What are the Different Types of
Chemotherapy Drugs?
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_4X_What_A
re_The_Different_Types_Of_Chemotherapy_Drugs.asp
o Mayo Clinic – Radiation Therapy
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/radiation-therapy/MY00299
o Nemours Foundation: Kids Health – Radiation Therapy
http://kidshealth.org/teen/cancer_center/treatment/radiation.ht
ml
2. Under the appropriate title, write down a simple definition of chemotherapy and
radiation therapy.
3. Record general information about each cancer treatment in clear bullet points on
the appropriate side of the paper under the definition.
4. Using what you have learned, write five diary or blog entries as if you were Mike
and Charlie. Remember, the purpose of these entries is to educate patients your
age about the science behind each treatment as well as what to expect when
going through treatment. Put yourself in the place of these young men and use
your imagination to describe their journey. Your final product should be typed and
should include the five entries described below. The descriptions provided list the
minimum requirements for each entry. You may want to enhance your diary or
blog with pictures or additional stories.

Entry #1 (Mike)
o Describe the goal of chemotherapy treatment and explain how this
treatment should help Mike in his battle against osteosarcoma.
o Describe what a typical treatment session entails. Include a
description of at least one medical professional who assists with the
treatment and mention the frequency of the treatment sessions.
o Mention at least two specific chemotherapy drugs which are being
used and describe how each medication works to attack and destroy
cancer cells. Reference information you learned about cancer cells
in Lesson 3.1.

Entry #2 (Mike)
o Describe what life is like for Mike after his chemotherapy treatment.
o Discuss any short term or long term side effects of chemotherapy
and explain how these side effects relate to the treatment.
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MI Activity 3.3.1 Diary of a Cancer Patient – Page 2
o Mention any other medical interventions that may help him feel
better as these chemicals take effect.

Entry #3 (Charlie)
o Describe the goal of radiation therapy and explain how this
treatment should help Charlie in his battle against
rhabdomyosarcoma.
o Describe what a typical treatment session entails. Include a
description of at least one medical professional who assists with the
treatment and mention the frequency of the treatment sessions.

Entry #4 (Charlie)
o Describe what life is like for Charlie after radiation.
o Discuss any short term or long term side effects of radiation and
explain how these side effects relate to the treatment.
o Mention any other medical interventions which may help Charlie
ease the side effects of radiation therapy.

Entry #5
o Add an entry on a topic of your choosing to enhance the entire diary
or blog.
5. Research how surgery can be used as a viable treatment option for Mike’s tumor.
Describe a possible course of action in your laboratory journal.
Conclusion
1. Explain what factors determine whether an oncologist treats cancer with
chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of the two.
2. Why do patients undergoing chemotherapy often lose their hair?
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MI Activity 3.3.1 Diary of a Cancer Patient – Page 3
3. Why do you think many patients undergoing chemotherapy are also given
medications simulating erythropoietin, a hormone in the body that stimulates the
production of red blood cells? Why does chemotherapy often lead to anemia, and
how does this anemia relate to the side effects of chemotherapy?
4. Megan just had surgery to remove a cancerous mass in her left breast. The
doctor assures her that the entire tumor was successfully removed, but still
suggests a round of chemotherapy. Why do you think the doctor recommends
this course of treatment?
5. Explain why radiation therapy is often targeted towards the tumor or to a specific
body region and not applied to the entire body.
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MI Activity 3.3.1 Diary of a Cancer Patient – Page 4