Preventative Guidelines
Treatment Plans
Miss Eleanor is experiencing breast tenderness and has not had a breast exam in over thirty years. At the age of 72, Miss Eleanor is at risk of developing breast cancer. The treatment plan for Miss Eleanor should involve breast cancer screening to determine the cause of the tenderness. A clinical breast exam should be carried out by a doctor who will check her breathing, heart rate, and lymph nodes around the lower neck and underarms for any swelling. In the case of a lump or swelling, a mammogram will help to shed light on the cause of the swelling (Oeffinger et al., 2015). An ultrasound can also be carried out alongside a breast biopsy. The biopsy samples should be tested for cancer.
Sally is a 48-year-old homeless woman who is concerned that she may have contracted a sexually transmitted infection. Sally has also had a mammogram previously but failed to follow up on her case to know if her breasts were healthy. Sally needs blood tests to determine whether she has an STI. These blood tests will indicate if the patient has contracted HIV or syphilis (Van der Eem et al., .2016). Sally’s urine samples should be collected for testing and fluids from her genital area if she has genital sores. These fluids will be tested for different, sexually transmitted diseases. Sally also needs a mammogram to determine why the previous doctor had recommended her for further evaluation. The mammogram will show if sally has signs of breast cancer.
Shelesha is a 21-year-old military officer who has been raped while on duty. The patient has signs of genital warts and emotional trauma from the incident. The treatment plan for Shelesha should include tests for STI’s such as HIV and syphilis, as well as HPV. The patient also needs counseling. Shelesha should undergo a blood test to check if she contracted other Infections from the incident. The patient should undergo a pap test and an HPV test to screen for cervical cancer (Park, Introcas, & Dunne, 2015). The patient also needs treatment for warts to stop them from growing. The procedure can be surgical or through medications such as Imiquimod and Condylox. Shelesha should then be provided with counseling to help her deal with the trauma from being raped.
Virginia, on the other hand, is a 67-year-old woman who is married and sexually active. The patient gets a pelvic exam every year and has had a mastectomy. The lady also takes medication for her cholesterol. Virginia’s treatment plan should include the pelvic exam to ensure she does not have reproductive health issues such as cervical cancer; the patient needs regular checks to check for abnormalities around the breast area. Lastly, the patient needs to have cholesterol levels checked, and her medications reviewed according to the results (Nayor & Vasan, 2016).
Preventative Guidelines
Preventative measures for breast cancer include reducing breast tissue exposure to estrogen, undergoing a mastectomy to reduce risk, exercise, and ovarian ablation. An extensive guideline for breast cancer prevention can be found at https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/patient/breast-prevention-pdq.
Sexually transmitted infections can be prevented through safe sex practices such as the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, regular testing for STI’s and understating the facts about STI’s. For further information about STU preventative measures, check https://www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/default.htm for CDC guidelines.
Genital warts can affect both genders and may lead to other diseases such as cancer. To prevent genital warts, patients need to undergo an HPV vaccination as well as practice safe sex. Patients should also be advised to quit smoking to lower their chances of getting warts. For more guidelines, visit https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/genital-warts/how-can-i-prevent-getting-or-spreading-genital-warts.
High cholesterol, on the other hand, can be avoided through lifestyle changes. The patient should be on a low-fat diet, regular exercise, and be encouraged to avoid smoking. Further guidelines can be found on https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/prevention-and-treatment-of-high-cholesterol-hyperlipidemia.
References
Nayor, M., & Vasan, R. S. (2016). Recent update to the US cholesterol treatment guidelines: a comparison with international guidelines. Circulation, 133(18), 1795-1806.
Oeffinger, K. C., Fontham, E. T., Etzioni, R., Herzig, A., Michaelson, J. S., Shih, Y. C. T., … & Wolf, A. M. (2015). Breast cancer screening for women at average risk: 2015 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. Jama, 314(15), 1599-1614.
Park, I. U., Introcaso, C., & Dunne, E. F. (2015). Human papillomavirus and genital warts: a review of the evidence for the 2015 centers for disease control and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 61(suppl_8), S849-S855.
Van der Eem, L., Dubbink, J. H., Struthers, H. E., McIntyre, J. A., Ouburg, S., Morre, S. A., … & Peters, R. P. (2016). Evaluation of syndromic management guidelines for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections in South African women. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 21(9), 1138-1146.