Module 1 Case Study #4 Ms. T: Need for Palliative Care at the Time…

Question Module 1 Case Study #4 Ms. T: Need for Palliative Care at the Time… Module 1 Case Study #4 Ms. T: Need for Palliative Care at the Time of Diagnosis Ms. T. is 53 years-old and served as a distribution officer during the Gulf War. She has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and her oncologist at the VA has asked the palliative care team to visit her at the clinic today before she goes home. The palliative care physician and nurse met with Ms. T. following her first office visit for newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer. Ms. T. lives alone and her only family is a son who lives out of state. Discussion Questions: 1. At the team’s first visit, Ms. T. says “What do I need a team like this for? I am here at the cancer center to be cured.” “My oncologist told me that she was optimistic about giving me chemo and that it should cure me.” How does the team introduce the concept of palliative care to a patient with newly diagnosed advanced stage cancer? 2. How does the team provide care to the patient and her son? The team follows Ms. T. throughout the course of treatment, seeing her at doctor visits, chemotherapy treatments and radiation therapy. It has been eight months and the disease has progressed to the point that chemotherapy is no longer an option. Discussion Questions: 3. When is the appropriate time to introduce the concept of hospice care? How can the team explain this type of care to Ms. T? 4. What type of settings could Ms. T receive hospice care? Would the VA cover all hospice expenses, even if she chose to have in-home hospice?  Health Science Science Nursing Share QuestionEmailCopy link Comments (0)