Care Provision in Long Term Conditions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Care Provision in Long Term Conditions - Essay Example This work aims to identify the effect of such a condition on the individual, their families and carers, and identify the elements of a successful strategy in which their capability of self care is promoted. The patient here is Mrs. Gladstone, a 60 year old lady with breast cancer. She is a widow, retired, and lives with her son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. This patient is fictional so that it does not breach confidentiality. Mrs. Gladstone was diagnosed with stage II infiltrating ductal carcinoma. In this case, the tumor is larger than 2 cm in size and has reached the lymph nodes under the arms. Macmillan Cancer Support (2013) points out that more than 500,000 people in the UK are suffering from a number of debilitating health conditions caused by cancer. Some of the problems mentioned are pain and discomfort, gastrointestinal problems, lymphoedema, chronic fatigue, and mental health issues (Cancer.Net). While the number of people living with chronic fatigue as a result of cancer is estimated at 350,000, approximately 240,000 people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and moderate to severe anxiety or depression. Furthermore, nearly 200,000 of the cancer-survivors face moderate to severe pain after curative treatment, and 90,000 face gastrointestinal problems. Lastly, nearly 63,000 of them suffer from lymphoedema. Additionally, there are body image issues, persistent hair loss, swallowing and speech problems, nausea and vomiting, heart diseases, fatigue, and social and financial difficulties to be addressed (Carver et al. 2006). Mrs. Gladstone’s life is considerably influenced by the disease. The diagnosis of breast cancer was shocking for her. She felt too confused, powerless, and fearful because of the large number of negative effects on her life. Firstly, she was worried as she felt hot flushes and palpitations. Moreover, Mrs. Gladstone found the diseases