Connect with us

Best Practice

Cancer diagnosis during covid-19. A nurse’s internal perspective

Published

on

This week on the blog, Dr. Rebecca Garcia (@bexlostinbooks) interviews Miguel Garcia, Registered Nurse (Adult). The blog was also created by Dr. Rebecca Garcia.

This short account gives an inside have a look at my journey as a nurse who was diagnosed with advanced cancer in mid-February 2020. This coincided with the onset of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. This unique report is presented in the shape of an interview. It highlights the challenges of being a nurse with health literacy in medicine, diagnosis and treatment, in comparison with a layperson who may not have the identical health literacy in their very own therapeutic journey. This trip coincided with the coronavirus pandemic, which brought unprecedented changes to healthcare services in March 2020, further impacting my experience. The interview begins with a recap of the start of my journey into advanced testicular cancer during Covid 19.

Interviewer: Can you tell me a little bit about how it began?

Miguel: Yes. It began after I found a lump on my testicle and knew it was abnormal. I monitored this for just a few weeks before searching for advice from my GP. My family doctor quickly sent me for an ultrasound. Within just a few days, my GP confirmed the tumor and I used to be sent for further tests, a CT scan and an appointment with a urologist. This diagnostic pathway was extremely quick, although in my experience during these few weeks, this time window was very long. It was a window of ignorance, naivety, denial, fear and anxiety.

Interviewer: What happened next?

Miguel: After receiving all the outcomes, I made one other appointment, which confirmed my diagnosis: advanced testicular cancer with metastases to the lymphatic system. As a nursing student, I worked on an oncology and hematology ward, working with cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, which gave me an insight into what lay ahead. This knowledge was each a help and a hindrance. This was helpful because I could guide my family with a number of the care needs I might have during my very own treatment. But it was an obstacle because I knew how poor I could turn into. This added a layer of fear to my experience. I wondered if a layman in his naivety (other than the guidance provided by health care professionals) could be in a greater position?

Interviewer: tell me a little bit about your treatment.

Miguel: My treatment began on Monday, when the country went into lockdown. Treatment consisted of 4 cycles, each consisting of three-week rounds of chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (also often known as BEP), for a complete of twelve weeks of treatment. I went to the hospital on Monday at 8:00 a.m. and left on Friday at 7:00 p.m. I used to be in a nondescript, unstimulated side room, alone, attached to an intravenous pump for 12 hours every single day. In the meantime, I received quite a few injections, either at home or each day. After 4 cycles of chemotherapy, I underwent a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, which is an intensive surgical operation (e.g. laparotomy) to remove remaining cancer-affected tissue (as a consequence of the spread of the disease) after chemotherapy. It was an intense treatment journey, lasting over 7 months, with negative effects that affected my each day life.

Interviewer: tell me how Covid-19 has affected you during your treatment?

Miguel: While I used to be in hospital undergoing chemotherapy, the hospital was severely restricted as a consequence of Covid. As a result, I used to be admitted alone, with none guests, to a nondescript and unstimulating side room. It is known that staff only got here to offer essential nursing care, similar to making observations, changing treatment infusions or bringing meals. Removing my social support was extremely isolating and removed all of the distractions that family and friends provided. Even though there was Facetime and phone calls, I needed face-to-face social interaction and support.

Each BEP cycle slowly wore me down. By the time I got to my last cycle, my tumor markers were at zero, but I had also “hit a wall.” I wanted to depart the hospital – I just wanted the treatment to finish. I felt weak, drained, nauseous, lost all my hair, lost 10 kg and was only a shadow of my former self. I used to be literally “done” and was on the verge of self-discharge mid-cycle. However, that evening I had a fever and have become tachycardic. Fortunately, my consultant and specialist nurses were patient and caring and encouraged me to finish the last cycle of BEP chemotherapy, though I noticed that I might turn into even weaker because of this of the treatment over the next weeks.

For me, the worst a part of the treatment got here 10 weeks after chemotherapy, after I underwent a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Unfortunately for me, I used to be fully aware of what this surgery entailed because I had seen it in practice. At this point I used to be scared to death. On the day of surgery, I had to depart my mother outside the hospital (as a consequence of Covid restrictions), considering I might die alone. Because I knew the factors for discharge from the hospital, I used to be up and walking the subsequent morning – my mission was to be discharged from the hospital as quickly as possible, so this nursing knowledge helped motivate me to get better from surgery.

Interviewer: Tell me, how has being a nurse with advanced cancer during covid modified you as a health care provider?

Miguel: I gained insight into the patient journey, which incorporates being vulnerable, fearful, and being on the mercy of a treatment regimen that you have got no control over. I now have greater empathy and compassion for patients and understand the worth of small acts of care that make an enormous difference throughout the whole treatment journey. For example, spending time talking to someone as you serve them a drink, listening to their concerns, explaining procedures thoroughly, and giving people time to digest the knowledge and ask questions. It’s the little things we do as healthcare employees that matter. Being a nurse with advanced cancer during Covid has been bittersweet; being health literate meant there have been few secrets and this added to my fears. But then again, having insider knowledge helped me answer necessary questions and ultimately heal. Fortunately, I not have cancer and am under remark after treatment.

Note: I would love to thank the incredible care and a focus I received during my journey from the doctors, nurses and medical staff who supported me, especially in essentially the most difficult moments.

Resources: :

Testicles cancer information from the NHS website

Cancer research Outreach, fundraising and research

Chemotherapy for testicular cancer Tips from MacMillan

Teen Cancer Fund Support and guidance for young people aged 13-24

(Visited 810 times, 1 visits today)

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our Newsletter

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending