Client Name
Capella University
BIO-FPX1000: Human Biology
Instructor’s Name
November 2024
Patient Profile – Cancer Susceptibility in Women
BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 6 Cancer susceptibility in women refers to identifying the factors that are becoming the reason for any kind of cancer disease in women (Łukasiewicz et al., 2021). The risk factors in women include hormonal changes, family history, lifestyle, reproductive history, and environmental setting. All these factors lead to some common cancers in women including breast cancer, colorectal, uterine, and ovarian cancer (Ge et al., 2022). All these factors are major contributors to increasing the risk of cancer in women. This assessment is based on the case study profiles of patients having breast cancer and the identification of risks associated with the disease. Moreover, it will also discuss the recommendations for each patient depending on the specific scenario and health situation of the patient.
Breast Cancer Risks Associated With Mary
Mary is a 64-year-old woman who gave birth to her first child at the age of 20 suffering from breast cancer due to various factors including family history. Her mother got breast cancer at the age of 37 which increases the risk for Mary. Family history is the most important factor in developing the disease and it doubles the risk. Mary got her first period at the 13 age and menopause occurred at the age of 58 which increases the exposure to estrogen for a lifetime. This exposure is also one of the major factors of breast cancer. She went through estrogen replacement therapy for approximately six years, which contributed to weight gain and highlighted the breast cancer risk.
Considering the above information Mary has a double risk of being suffered from breast cancer due to the family history and many other factors. In the risk assessment regarding breast cancer, it has been identified that Mary would have a chance of 3.1% invasive breast cancer in the next five years which is a much higher rate than the average. The lifetime risk identified is 12.1% which is more than the U.S.-defined average which is 8.1% for women.
Mary’s Recommendations
The recommendations given to Mary to reduce the risk of elevated breast cancer are as follows;
- Continue estrogen replacement treatment to decrease the breast cancer risk.
- Stress management is essential to reduce the elevated risk of breast cancer due to family history.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle including the balance of a nutritious diet, increasing physical activities, and avoiding alcohol.
- Regular screening every 40 days to monitor the situation and reduce the health risks.
Breast Cancer Risks Associated With Paula
At the age of 71, Paula is suffering from bladder cancer that is now spread to her ovaries and lymphatic vessels. It is metastatic breast cancer which is spreading and representing advanced-stage health problems. Paula has a wide family history of cancer including her sister who had breast cancer and went for treatment three years ago, and her mother had lung cancer. Moreover, her maternal grandmother and paternal uncles also have a history of cancer which shows a hereditary cancer syndrome. This hereditary syndrome needs to be effectively diagnosed through genetic testing and providing proper guidance to the patients and families for the prevention of the disease (Silva et al., 2022). Such a long history of cancer in Paul’s family increases the chances of breast cancer elevation for Paula. According to the risk assessment, her estimated risk is 8.3% in the next five years which is greater than the average of the U.S. which is 2.1%. The lifetime risk associated with the health situation and family history of paula related to cancer is 18.2% which is much higher than the average of 5.1%.
Paula’s Recommendations
A huge inheritance of cancer in the case of Paula increases her risk of developing breast cancer. Her sister’s BRCA1 mutation further worsens the situation regarding the prevalence of cancer. The recommendations given to Paula are based on her family history of extensive cancers are as follows;
- Chemotherapy for bladder cancer is recommended to Paula to prevent the risk of cancer elevation.
- Regular screening and vigilant monitoring are needed to ensure a positive health response regarding cancer management.
Breast Cancer Risks Associated With June
June is a 58-year-old woman who continuously undergoes mammograms which is essential to detect any breast-related abnormalities in the early stages of breast cancer. Family history of June shows various factors of developing the heightened risk of cancer including her aunt’s breast cancer and the brain tumor of her mother. Although brain tumors are not directly linked with breast cancer, a history of any kind of cancer can increase the chances for others (Drewes et al., 2020). June has high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, along with fragile bones. Although all the factors are not directly linked with breast cancer proper management is needed to ensure overall effective health outcomes. According to risk assessment, the breast cancer risk for June in the next five years will be 2.6% which is higher than the average risk of 1.7%. The lifetime risk associated with her condition is 14.6% which is much higher than the U.S. recommended average risk which is 9.5%.
June’s Recommendations
June has a history of using oral contraceptives which increases her risk of breast cancer by 7%. Based on their health situation in June the recommendations given to manage her health situation are as follows;
- Regular mammograms to identify any risk associated with the elevation of the cancer.
- Effective management of hypertension and cholesterol levels using DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan.
- Increase calcium-rich diet for the health of the bones and overcoming the fragility of the bones.
Breast Cancer Risks Associated With Nora
Nora is a 51-year-old woman who is still experiencing menstrual cycles indicating that she hasn’t reached her menopause yet. The history of the family in the case of Nora shows breast and colon cancer which increases the risk of developing cancer leading to various health problems. The estimated risk of breast cancer for Nora in the next five years is 3% which is more than the average of 1.3% and the lifetime risk is 23.8% which is much higher than the estimated 11% of the U.S. average.
Nora’s Recommendations
The recommendations for Nora’s health management are given as follows;
- BRCA1 testing is suggested due to the family history of the cancers showing the risk of heightened disease.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle including an effective diet and avoiding alcohol.
- Regular examinations are needed to timely identify the health situation of the patient.
- Addressing the risk factors including use of oral contraceptives and age at first pregnancy.
BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 6 References
Drewes, A. M., Møller, M. E., Larsen, R., Engholm, G., & Storm, H. H. (2020). Risk of primary brain tumour after breast cancer. Endocrine Connections, 9(1), 28–33. https://doi.org/10.1530/ec-19-0498
Ge, S., Wang, B., Wang, Z., He, J., & Ma, X. (2022). Common multiple primary cancers associated with breast and gynecologic cancers and their risk factors, pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis: A review. Frontiers in Oncology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.840431
Łukasiewicz, S., Czeczelewski, M., Forma, A., Baj, J., Sitarz, R., & Stanislawek, A. (2021). Breast cancer—epidemiology, risk factors, classification, prognostic markers, and current treatment Strategies—an updated review. Cancers, 13(17), 4287. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13174287
Silva, E., Gomes, P., Matos, P. M., Silva, E. R., Silva, J., Brandão, C., Castro, F., Neves, M. C., & Sales, C. M. (2022). I have always lived with the disease in the family: Family adaptation to hereditary cancer-risk. BMC Primary Care, 23, 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01704-z
