Weight: 30%
Length: 750 words
Learning Outcomes:
This component of the Assessment will allows the student to demonstrate competence in the following unit learning outcome:
1. apply an understanding of cancer pathophysiology, diagnosis, aetiology and common treatment options.
Task
Betty has recently been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Pathological examination of biopsy from Betty's colonoscopy and excsion reveal moderately differentiated Adenocarcinoma of descending colon, stage 3A (Duke’s C).
Discuss the following in relation to this case:
· Succinctly discuss the pathophysiology of cancer tumours in general (Approx 250 words)
· Discuss the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer disease in relation to Betty’s biopsy results (moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma grade 3) (Approx 250 words)
· Discuss ONE of the chemotherapeutic treatment available for Betty. Link your discussion to the relevant pathophysiology of Betty’s condition (Approx 250 words)
MARKING CRITERIA:
·
Criteria: 1
HD 26-23%
D 22-20%
C 19-17%
P 16-14%
N 13-0%
Mark (%)
Critical discussion of the pathophysiology of cancer tumours.
Outstanding in-depth critical discussion of pathophysiology of cancer tumours. Excellent use of evidence to support discussion using a wide range of high quality resources.
Thorough in-depth critical discussion of pathophysiology of cancer tumours. Effective use of a wide range of high-quality evidence to support discussion.
An effective discussion of pathophysiology of cancer tumours. Discussion is supported by a range of evidence based resources, developing critical analysis.
Some discussion, often over-simplified, of pathophysiology of cancer tumours. Discussion is supported by some evidence based sources or low quality resources, some evidence of attempt at analysis of literature.
Discussion is unclear or no discussion is provided on pathophysiology of cancer tumours.
Not supported by evidence or supported by non-evidence based sources; little or no attempt at analysis of sources.
/26
Criteria: 2
HD 28-24%
D 23-21%
C 20-18%
P 17-15%
N 14-0%
Critical discussion of the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer in relation to Betty’s biopsy results
Outstanding, in-depth critical discussion of the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer and is related back to Betty’s results effectively throughout. Excellent use of evidence to support discussion using a wide range of high quality resources.
Thorough in-depth critical discussion of the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer and is related back to Betty’s results effectively. Effective use of a wide range of evidence to support discussion.
An effective discussion on the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer and is related back to Betty’s results well. Discussion is supported by a range of evidenced based resources; developing critical analysis.
Some discussion on the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer and is
iefly related back to Betty’s results. Discussion is supported by some evidence based sources, some evidence of attempt at analysis of literature.
Discussion is unclear or no discussion is provided on the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer and is not related back to Betty’s results.
Not supported by evidence or supported by non-evidence based sources; little or no attempt at analysis of sources.
/28
Criteria: 3
HD 26-23%
D 22-20%
C 19-17%
P 16-14%
N 13-0%
Critical discussion on ONE of the chemotherapeutic treatments available for Betty.
Outstanding critical discussion on ONE of the chemotherapeutic treatments available for Betty.
Excellent use of evidence based
Thorough critical discussion on ONE of the chemotherapeutic treatments available for Betty.
Effective use of a wide range of evidence to support
An effective discussion on ONE of the chemotherapeutic treatments available for Betty.
Discussion is supported by some
Some discussion on ONE of the chemotherapeutic treatments available for Betty.
Discussion is supported by some evidence based
Discussion is unclear or no discussion is provided on ONE of the chemotherapeutic treatments available for Betty.
Not supported by evidence or supported
/26
esources used to support discussion using a wide range of high quality resources.
discussion.
evidenced based resources; developing critical analysis.
sources, some evidence of attempt at analysis of literature.
by non-evidence based sources; little or no attempt at analysis of sources.
Criteria: Writing – 10%
HD 10-8.5%
D XXXXXXXXXX%
C XXXXXXXXXX%
P 6.5-5%
N 4.9-0%
Mark (%)
Follows requirements for structure, presentation grammar and spelling.
Accurately and consistently adheres to essay format writing conventions, grammatical conventions with no e
ors and is a logical / well and succinctly structured assignment
Mostly accurate and consistent adherence to essay format writing conventions, adheres to grammatical conventions with few e
ors and is a logical and well-structured assignment
Partial but close adherence to essay format writing conventions, adheres to grammatical conventions, but with frequent e
ors, mainly a well- structured assignment, lacking cohesion in places
Minimal adherence to essay format writing conventions, minimal adherence to grammatical conventions with multiple e
ors, a weakly structured assignment, frequently lacking cohesion
Little attempt to adhere to essay format writing conventions, multiple grammatical e
ors with minimal attention to writing / spelling conventions that significantly distract the reader from the content. A poorly structured assignment, lacking cohesion
/10
Criteria APA – 10%
HD 10-8.5%
D XXXXXXXXXX%
C XXXXXXXXXX%
P 6.5-5%
N 4.9-0%
Mark (%)
Follows requirements for referencing (APA 6th Edition) and the application of evidence
Accurately and consistently adheres to APA referencing conventions for the in-text and reference list Explicitly acknowledges all sources used throughout the assignment
Mostly offers accurate and consistent APA referencing conventions for the in-text and reference list Principally acknowledges sources used throughout the assignment
A number of inaccurate and inconsistent APA references in the in-text and reference list Mostly acknowledges sources used throughout the assignment
Multiple inaccurate and inconsistent APA references in the in-text and reference list Minimal acknowledgment of sources used throughout the assignment
Did not adhere to the APA referencing conventions and/or made catastrophic, multiple and consistent APA e
ors throughout
Little or no acknowledgment of sources used throughout the assignment
10
Case study of beaty in detail. Please try t consider all the points for critical anaysis
Betty has been recently diagnosed with Colorectal cancer. We meet Betty as she presents to her GP with some uncomfortable symptoms and follow her journey as she undergoes screening, diagnosis and treatment for bowel cancer. Follow Betty's story as she deals with many issues associated with cancer including complications of treatment and cancer survivorship.
Age: 62 (DOB- 9/10/54)
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Marital status: Ma
ied to Bob for 37 years.
Occupation:
Children: 1 child, Natalie aged 36.
Medical Hx: Treated for Hypertension for past 3 years. Family history- father died 20 years ago from colorectal cancer, Betty not sure of type of cancer. Non-smoker.
Social Hx: Betty lives with her husband, Bob. They have one daughter who is ma
ied and lives in the US. They have 2 granddaughters (aged 9 and 11) who they Skype with regularly. Betty works part time at the local newsagency and Bob (aged 68) is retired. Betty and Bob travel overseas annually.
Betty visits her GP with some wo
ying signs
Mrs Betty Hill aged 62 presents to her GP, Dr Sharon Glasson with a history of recent bowel changes including episodes of dia
hea, bloating, and incomplete empyting of bowel and some pain on defecation. During Betty's appointment she mentions that she has had the "odd spot of blood" on her undergarments after having a bowel motion over the past few months. Unconcerned about this, she mentions that she has a haemo
hoid that she has had for many years now and
ushed this off as coming from a bleeding haemo
hoid. While discussing other symptoms, Betty mentions that she is quite often fatigued but has put this down to her busy lifestyle
Physical examination
Dr Glasson attends a full physical examination and finds the following-
· History- hypertension, family history (father) of colorectal cancer.
· Screening- Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) attended 2 and a half years ago, result negative.
· General appearance- no evidence of jaundice, some palor present
· Physical Examination- Vital signs: BP- 145/82; P- 82; Temp- 36.9; RR- 26
· Abdominal examination- inspection- evidence of abdominal distention (this is consistent with Betty's reports of bloating); palpation- reveals a small firm mass in lower left quadrant of abdomen, possibly faeces; some tenderness over lower left quadrant on deep palpation; ausculation- normal bowel sounds present in right upper and lower quadrants, but slightly diminished in left upper and lower quadrants; percussion- localised tenderness over lower left quadrant; nil evidence of hepatamegaly or spenomegaly; nil evidence of abdominal ascites.
· Rectal examination- presence of formed stool in lower rectum, haemo
hoid visible on exterior peri-anal region.
Diagnostic tests
After the physical examination, Dr Glasson tells Betty that further tests are needed to determine the cause of Betty's symptoms. Dr Glasson draws blood for pathology testing. The following pathology tests are ordered and Betty is sent for a CT Scan.
· Pathology- Full Blood Count- White blood cell count; Red blood cell count (including Hct and Hb); platelets; Urea and electrolytes (U & E); Liver function test (LFT); Carcinoem
yonic antigen (CEA)- for baseline tumor marking.
· CT Scan- CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis
Pathology tests are mostly unremarkable except for Hb- 110 g/L and CEA- 5.5mcg/L.
Followup after diagnostic tests
Betty returns to Dr Glasson accompanied by her husband Bob to receive what she expects to be bad news regarding the tests she has had done. Consulting Betty's results, Dr Glasson reveals that Betty's CT Scan shows a small lesion in her lower bowel and the descending part of her large bowel (colon), which is likely cancerous, and that her pathology results reveal mild anaemia, most likely as a result of the tumour in her colon. She also advises that the raised CEA level is also suggestive of colorectal cancer. Betty is visibly distressed by this news, clutching on to Bob for support. Dr Glasson spends some time reassuring Betty and Bob that diagnosis needs to be confirmed by Colonoscopy and biopsy of the lesion. Focusing on the positives of results that these indicate early diagnosis highlighting statistics of successful treatment in the early stages. She also reassures Betty that there is no indication at this stage that the tumour has spread. Betty is refe
ed to a general surgeon for an urgent Colonoscopy and Flexible Sigmoidoscopy.
Betay sign and symptoms
· Recent bowel changes including episodes of dia
hoea, bloating, and incomplete emptying of bowel and some pain on defecation
· "odd spot of blood" on undergarments after having a bowel motion
Fatigue
Colon cancer screening
· Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
· Sigmoidosocopy
· Colonoscopy
· Magnetic Resonance Imaging