class 6

Question 1

What is cancer staging, and what are the three important factors used in cancer staging?

Answer 1

Cancer staging refers to assessing how far the cancer has spread in the body. The three important factors in cancer staging are the invasiveness of the tumor, the presence or absence of lymph node involvement, and the presence or absence of distant metastases

Question 2

How do health disparities in cancer care affect various racial groups in Canada, and what are some of the disparities mentioned in the notes?

Answer 2

Health disparities in cancer care in Canada affect groups like Black, Indigenous, and people of color due to racism and discrimination. Some of the disparities mentioned in the notes include worse cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment for these groups. Indigenous peoples, in particular, receive less optimal cancer care and show worse survival rates after a cancer diagnosis.

Question 3

What are some common treatment options for cancer?

Answer 3

No single treatment is effective for all types of cancer. A combination approach may be needed.

Common treatment options for cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery is often used in early-stage cancer. Radiation therapy destroys rapidly dividing cells but can have side effects. Chemotherapy blocks metabolic processes involved in cellular division but may damage healthy tissue.

Question 4

What is the difference between primary and adjuvant chemotherapy?

Answer 4

Primary chemotherapy is the main treatment for cancerlike surgery, while adjuvant chemotherapy is an additional treatment used alongside primary treatments, such as chemotherapy.

Question 5

What are the five facets of conventional medicine’s explanations of health and illness?

Answer 5

Conventional medicine explanations of health and illness are based on
empirical evidence and objective data,
logic and facts,
parsimony (explaining phenomena with the fewest causes),
rigorous evaluation through science,
and the understanding that explanations are tentative to accommodate new or better evidence.

Question 6

What are some examples of mind-body interventions in cancer treatment?

Answer 6

Examples of mind-body interventions in cancer treatment include psychotherapy, meditation, imagery/visualization, yoga, dance therapy, music therapy, art therapy, and prayer.

Question 7

What are some examples of system-oriented approaches in cancer treatment?

Answer 7

System-oriented approaches include traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, acupressure, herbal remedies, cupping, moxibustion, naturopathic medicine, diet/nutritional approaches, community-based practices, Ayurveda, and homeopathic medicine.

Question 8

What are some examples of manual healing methods used in cancer care?Explain Feldenkrais, Trager and Biogenetics therapies.

Answer 8

Manual healing methods in cancer care include osteopathic medicine, chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, biofield therapeutics, reflexology, and other bodywork methods like the Feldenkrais and Trager methods, as well as bioenergetics.

○ Feldenkrais method directs attention to habitual patterns that are thought to be
inefficient or strained and attempts to teach new patterns using gentle slow repeated movements.

○ The Trager method uses gentle touch and a combination of passive and active
movement with the intent of teaching the recipient how to move with less upper

○ Bioenergetics: body psychotherapy

Question 9

How do cultural groups view complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in relation to conventional medicine?

Answer 9

Many cultural groups see CAM as primary treatments rather than alternatives to conventional medicine. For example, Indigenous people often use traditional medicine alongside conventional cancer treatment, and it is associated with spiritual, emotional, and cultural benefits.

Question 10

What is the placebo effect, and how does it relate to healing?

Answer 10

The placebo effect is a positive outcome to a treatment that a person believes to be an effective therapy, demonstrating the significant impact of a person’s expectations on healing. The placebo effect is complicated because informed consent is required for all treatment, making it challenging to administer treatments considered placebos.

Question 11

What is intercessory prayer, and what have studies shown about its effectiveness in health outcomes?

Answer 11

Intercessory prayer is when someone else prays for an individual who is ill. Some studies have shown positive effects, such as fewer illnesses and hospital visits, but when multiple studies are examined together, there is no significant effect of prayer on death rates or health outcomes across various illnesses.

Question 12

What are the three main types of coping strategies discussed when dealing with life-threatening illness?

Answer 12

The three primary coping strategies for dealing with life-threatening illness are emotion-focused coping, problem-focused coping, and meaning-based coping. These strategies serve different purposes in helping individuals manage such situations.

Question 13

Could you provide examples of problem-focused coping strategies for managing a life-threatening illness?

Answer 13

Problem-focused coping involves taking actions to regain control. Examples include seeking information about one’s diagnosis, exploring treatment options, living with the illness, and coping with the prognosis. It often revolves around the pursuit of meaningful goals.

Question 14

How do emotion-focused coping strategies help individuals dealing with life-threatening illnesses to manage their emotional reactions?

Answer 14

Emotion-focused coping strategies are aimed at changing emotional reactions to life-threatening illnesses. Examples include talking to someone who understands their feelings, seeking support and reassurance, and engaging in distraction. These strategies help individuals regulate their distress levels and distance themselves from the emotional impact of their situation.

Question 15

What is the purpose of meaning-based coping, and how can it help individuals in distressing situations?

Answer 15

Meaning-based coping strategies are designed to help individuals find some benefit or positive aspect in distressing situations, such as a life-threatening illness. These strategies assist in maintaining a positive perspective and well-being. People may turn to spiritual beliefs for insight and strive to make the best out of challenging circumstances.

Question 16

Can you explain the concept of “fighting spirit” as mentioned in the context of cancer literature?

Answer 16

In the context of cancer, “fighting spirit” refers to the belief in one’s ability to overcome cancer. This belief involves the determination to fight back, conquer, and recover from the disease. It is often associated with a positive attitude toward beating the illness, though it is important to note that the scientific evidence for its effect on survival is inconclusive.

Question 17

What is the “tyranny of positive thinking,” and why is it important to avoid this misconception when supporting individuals with cancer?

Answer 17

The “tyranny of positive thinking” is the misconception that having only positive emotions is the key to overcoming cancer. This misconception, often perpetuated by popular media, can lead to the blame and judgment of individuals with cancer if their condition worsens. It is essential to avoid this misconception as there is no scientific evidence to support that positive emotions alone directly influence cancer survival.

Question 18

What are the three phases of coping with life-threatening illness, as defined by Ken Doka?

Answer 18

Ken Doka identifies three phases in coping with life-threatening illness: the acute phase, chronic phase, and terminal phase. The acute phase involves the diagnosis of the illness, the chronic phase focuses on living with the illness, and the terminal phase centers around coping with impending death.

Question 19

How do the tasks of coping in the acute, chronic, and terminal phases differ from each other?

Answer 19

While some tasks of coping are common across all three phases (e.g., expressing feelings and managing stress), there are differences as well. For example, in the acute phase, individuals must integrate their diagnosis into their sense of self. In the chronic phase, finding meaning while living with uncertainty is crucial. In the terminal phase, individuals must find meaning in both life and death.

Question 20

Can you explain the two additional stages mentioned by Ken Doka for coping with life-threatening illness?

Answer 20

Ken Doka describes two additional stages that some individuals may go through: the prediagnostic phase and the recovery phase. The prediagnostic phase involves coping when the person suspects illness and seeks medical attention, focusing on managing uncertainty. The recovery phase follows the cure or remission of a previously life-threatening illness and may also involve managing uncertainty.

Question 21

What are the five stages of dying according to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, and can you briefly describe each one?

Answer 21

According to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, the five stages of dying are:

Denial (shock and disbelief): This is when a person is unable to admit that their medical condition is terminal, and they deny the reality of impending death.
Anger: In this stage, the pain of loss is projected onto others, and the person may express anger at their situation.
Bargaining: This involves attempts to avoid the inevitable, such as making deals with fate or a higher power to postpone death.
Depression: As the reality of imminent death sinks in, the person may experience deep sadness and a sense of profound loss.
Acceptance: In this final stage, the individual comes to terms with their forthcoming death and begins making preparations accordingly.

Question 22

Can individuals experiencing kubler-ross’s stages move back and forth among them, or do they progress linearly?

Answer 22

Kubler-Ross acknowledged that individuals can move back and forth among these stages, and they may even experience different stages simultaneously. The stages are not necessarily linear, and some individuals might get stuck in one stage

Question 23

What are the four types of awareness contexts when it comes to patients facing death, and can you explain each one?

Answer 23

The four awareness contexts are:

Closed Awareness: In this context, the patient is unaware of their impending death, while others may know. The family tends not to talk about the patient’s illness or the fact that they will die.
Suspected Awareness: Here, the dying person suspects their prognosis and may try to confirm or deny their suspicions by asking others who know. However, those who know do not verify the suspicions, and communication about the illness breaks down.
Mutual Pretense: In mutual pretense, everyone, including the patient, recognizes that death is going to happen, but everyone behaves as if it will not. This pretense can persist until the patient’s death, even when unspoken rules occasionally reveal the terminal prognosis.
Open Awareness: In this context, death is acknowledged and discussed, allowing for the possibility of shared support between the patient and the family.

Question 24

What is social disengagement in the context of being sick, and how does it affect individuals facing a serious illness?

Answer 24

Social disengagement occurs when being sick separates individuals from the things that give their life meaning and purpose, such as their family, friends, and work. This can lead to isolation and the feeling of being cut off from important social connections. People living with serious illnesses like cancer or HIV may experience isolation and stigma due to others’ fears or misunderstandings about their conditions.

Question 25

How does the concept of the “sick role” apply to individuals diagnosed with serious medical illnesses? What does it lead to?

Answer 25

When people are diagnosed with serious medical illnesses, they may be expected by their families to acquire the “sick role.” This often means that patients are expected to keep seeking treatment and “get better,” even when further treatment may only prolong the active dying phase. The sick role can lead to complex decisions and discussions about end-of-life care and the expectations placed on the patient.

Question 26

What are the three types of dying trajectories, and can you provide examples of illnesses that typically correspond to each type?

Answer 26

There are three types of dying trajectories:

Trajectory 1: This involves a short period of evident decline, typically seen in cases of cancer.
Trajectory 2: It consists of long-term limitations with intermittent serious episodes, which is common in heart failure and respiratory illnesses.
Trajectory 3: This trajectory is characterized by prolonged decline with gradual disability and generalized failure of multiple body systems, often associated with Alzheimer’s, other dementias, and generalized frailty.

Question 27

What are some of the signs that indicate active dying, and how long does this phase typically last?

Answer 27

Active dying is the very end of life, usually lasting only a few hours to a few days. Signs of active dying may include loss of appetite, excessive fatigue, increased physical weakness, social withdrawal, confusion, difficulty or noisy breathing, and loss of control over bowel and bladder functions.

Question 28

What is the purpose of legacy videos for individuals facing death, and what are some reasons people choose to create them?

Answer 28

Legacy videos serve multiple purposes for individuals facing death. They allow individuals to:

Leave a life story for their family.
Leave a personal message for a spouse, young children, or grandchildren.
Recollect and review the memories of their lifetime.
Complete unfinished business.
Creating a legacy video can help individuals reflect on their life, validate themselves, and provide a sense of comfort during the process of facing death.

Question 29

Can you provide examples of the types of content that might be included in a legacy

Answer 29

A legacy video may include various content, such as:

Personal messages to loved ones.
Recollections of important life events.
Life lessons and values.
Stories and memories.
Reflections on accomplishments.
Expressions of love and gratitude.
Wishes and hopes for the future.
The content can vary based on the individual’s preferences and the messages they want to convey to their loved ones.

Question 30

How do legacy videos help individuals facing death, their families, and loved ones?

Answer 30

Legacy videos provide a way for individuals facing death to leave a lasting message, share their life experiences, and provide comfort and closure to their families and loved ones. These videos allow for reminiscence, validation, and the expression of love and gratitude. They can also help individuals process the idea of death and leave behind a tangible memory that can be cherished by their loved ones. Watching these videos may provide a sense of connection and comfort, making the process of facing death more bearable for both the individual and their family.