Breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes
Breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes
Discussion 1
Discussion Question 1
Based on your performance and the expert feedback in your HISTORY collection, describe two missed questions and your understanding of why they were important to collect for this case history. Use specific references from your text to explain.
This week’s case study was quite insightful for me. There were definitely several questions that I regretfully missed the opportunity to ask my patient. One question I should have asked Rachael was “Do you have any swollen lymph nodes?” Breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes, so her lymph nodes might be affected. “Malignant cells from a breast cancer may spread directly to the infraclavicular nodes or into the internal mammary chain of lymph nodes within the chest” (Bates, Szilagyi, & Hoffman, 2017, p. 422). Another question I should have asked was “Is the lump movable?” as lumps that are movable are often benign. “Hard irregular poorly circumscribed nodules, fixed to the skin or underlying tissues, strongly suggest cancer” (Bates, Szilagyi, & Hoffman, 2017, p. 438).
Discussion Question 2
Based on your performance and the expert feedback in your PHYSICAL EXAM collection, describe two errors in your exam performance or documentation. Use specific references from your text to explain the importance of these findings in correct assessment of this client.
In my assessment of Rachael, I failed to note the consistency of the lumps in her breast. It is important to note the consistency of any lumps and determine if they are soft, firm, or hard (Bates, et al., 2017). I also failed to note delimitation. Delimitation is describing the boundaries of the lumps. Noting whether the lumps are well circumscribed or not is another important detail in the breast assessment. “Assess and describe the characteristics of any nodule: location, size, shape, consistency, delimitation, tenderness, and mobility” (Bates, et al., 2017, p. 438).
Discussion Question 3
Based on your performance on the PHYSICAL EXAM collection, describe one key finding that you included in your list and describe a specific physical exam that you can perform at the point-of-care to further evaluate the finding. Use specific references from your text.
One key finding in my physical assessment was a one centimeter right axillary lymph node that was firm but mobile. To further evaluate this finding, I can completely examine the axillary area. The text explains exactly how to examine for lymph nodes: “To examine the left axilla, ask the patient to relax with the left arm down and warn the patient that the examination may be uncomfortable. Support the patient’s left wrist or hand with your left hand. Cup together the fingers of your right hand and reach as high as you can toward the apex of the axilla. Place your fingers directly behind the pectoral muscles, pointing toward the midclavicle. Now press your fingers in toward the chest wall and slide them downward, trying to palpate the central nodes against the chest wall. Of the axillary nodes, the central nodes are most likely to be palpable. One or more soft, small (<1 cm), nontender nodes are frequently felt” (Bates, et al., p. 440). If any of the centrally located nodes are large, tender, or hard, or if there is a concerning lesion in the axillary nodes drainage areas, palpate for the other groups of axillary lymph nodes in the pectoral, lateral, and subscapular nodes, as well as re-examine the infraclavicular and supraclavicular nodes (Bates, et al., p. 441.)
Discussion Question 4
Based on your performance and the expert feedback in your ASSESSMENT identification of problem categories, choose one missed/incorrect category and use specific references from your text to explain the importance of this category in arriving at correct differential diagnoses for this client.
A missed category that I missed was the unintentional weight loss experienced by Rachael. Malignancy is linked to unexplained weight loss Gannavarapu, et al., 2018). Unintentional weight loss should therefore always be investigated further. As this patient has hypothyroidism, which is generally associated with weight gain, rather than weight loss, this weight loss is of even greater concern.
Discussion Question 5
Based on your performance and the expert feedback in your ASSESSMENT of differential diagnoses, describe one incorrect/missed differential diagnosis and use specific references from your text to support the inclusion of the diagnosis for this client
One diagnosis I missed was fat necrosis. Upon exam, if breast dimpling or retraction is seen, this suggests underlying cancer. Cancer can cause fibrous strands to be attached to the skin and fascia which lie over the pectoral muscles. This may cause dimpling inward of the skin during contraction of the muscle. Sometimes, this sign may signify a benign condition such as fat necrosis, but it should always be evaluated further to be sure (Bates, et al., 2014, p. 436.)
Discussion 2
Discussion Question 1
Based on your performance and the expert feedback in your HISTORY collection, describe two missed questions and your understanding of why they were important to collect for this case history. Use specific references from your text to explain.
The first question I missed was does your breast problem come and go? To assist a patient in describing a complaint, a nurse practitioner must know how to ask salient and focused questions to draw out necessary information. It is important to know the particular symptoms that brought the patient to seek medical help.
The second question I missed was when did the problems of your breast start? It is important to ask this history question because identifying when the problem first started and how it has changed or progressed since the onset helps in the assessment, evaluation and diagnosis process.
Discussion Question 2
Based on your performance and the expert feedback in your PHYSICAL EXAM collection, describe two errors in your exam performance or documentation. Use specific references from your text to explain the importance of these findings incorrect assessment of this client.
My first error was I did not auscultate required respiratory locations, which would have better identified the patient’s lung pathology. Auscultating the lungs for adventitious sounds, particularly crackles at the bases, which might indicate heart failure while other adventitious sounds could indicate a respiratory rather than cardiac cause.
My second error was I did not auscultate lung in the correct order. To get a correct assessment of a patient lung field auscultation needs to be done in the correct order because breath sounds vary in intensity, volume and duration depending from each base of the lung to another.
Discussion Question 3
