Oncology Reflective Writing Assignment

📌Category: Cancer, Health
📌Words: 470
📌Pages: 2
📌Published: 23 February 2022

These past few oncology lectures have been very eye-opening, I actually didn’t even know much about the pathophysiology of cancer before these lectures so now that I know that pathophysiology I feel like I have a greater understanding of what cancer patients are up against. The first thing that I learned is that cancer is not just a physical illness, it also affects the mind and spirit. The next thing I learned is that chemotherapy is not the only option when treating cancer. The third thing that I learned is how much trust patients have in their provider and how much they lean on the provider’s opinion and expertise. 

After the oncology lectures I now have a better understanding that cancer is not just a physical illness. I watched the video called “Wenoras story”, this was about a woman who had a hysterectomy in order to stop the spread of her cancer. She said that after her hysterectomy she was more irritable, had a lower libido and she just didn’t feel like herself. This was something that my Dad also went through because he was diagnosed with prostate cancer at a younger age. The doctor really encouraged my Dad to take his prostate out, but my Dad really was resistant about this. I realize now that the side effects of taking a prostate out can be urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, which at a young age could be devastating. This made me realize that not only should I be treating the physical part of cancer but also giving patients resources and support regarding their spiritual and mental health. 

Another thing that I learned is that chemotherapy is not the only option for cancer treatment. I thought that this was the only option for cancer patients. I especially thought that the monoclonal therapy was interesting, I would have never thought that antibodies could be used for a disease like cancer. Another interesting treatment was the endocrine therapy for breast cancer. It was also interesting to me that this therapy could increase the risk of uterine cancer. Learning about different treatment options was good for me because I will be able to give patients more options. I think when patients are given more options they feel more in control and oftentimes more passion to fight the illness. 

The last thing that I took away from these lectures was just a desire to become a provider that people being treated with cancer or any other illness would feel comfortable coming to and expressing their concerns. Wenora said that she waited a long time and “suffered in silence” because she didn’t talk to her provider about the feelings she was having. I hope to be a provider that can make it so my patients never get to the point where they are suffering in silence but at least suffering with support, a treatment plan and hope. 

I loved these lectures and think that because I actively listened and was curious about the topic it will make me a better provider in the long run.

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