Case 7 - Prostate Cancer Patient
Case 7 - Prostate Cancer Patient
This is a case of a 68 year old male, married admitted due to complaints of blood in the
urine, painful urination and sudden weight loss of about a month (from 80 kgs to 68 kgs in a
month). The doctor runs a few diagnostic tests. Her admission vital signs are as follows: BP
120/90 Heart rate 72 Resp rate 19.
After confirmation and surgery of the prostate cancer which is at Stage III, the doctor
prescribed the following medications: Goserelin 3.6mg SC q28 days; Nilutamide 300 mg PO
OD, Docetaxel 75 mg/m2 IV over 1 hr q 3 weeks with daily Prednisone 5 mg PO q12 hr.
The presentation of case analysis includes:
1. Explain the structure and function of the male reproductive system and the
mechanism of urine production.
Two epididymides, two ductus deferentia, two ejaculatory ducts, the urethra, two seminal
vesicles, the prostate gland, and two bulbourethral glands make up the male reproductive system.
The male reproductive organs, which also transport these cells outside of the body and secrete
male sex hormones, are responsible for the production and maintenance of sperm cells. The two
tes-tes, in which sperm cells and male sex hormones are produced, are the principal sex organs,
also known as the male gonads. The internal and external reproductive organs are the accessory
sex organs.
Prostate Gland: The prostate gland, which is somewhat smaller than the urinary bladder, covers
the proximal part of the urethra. It is a muscular structure that has a chestnut- or doughnut-
shaped shape and is around 4 cm in width and 3 cm in thickness. It consists of 20 to 30 branched
tubular glands with ducts that flow into the urethra, and it is coated in a thick connective tissue
capsule. The stroma, a collection of dense connective tissue and smooth muscle, contains these
glands.
They produce, preserve, and transport sperm and semen, which are the male reproductive cells
(the protective fluid around sperm). Sperm is released into the female reproductive system by
them. Male sex hormones are created and secreted by them.
Hormones are essential to the male reproductive system in general. These are substances that
control or boost the function of a male’s cells and organs. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone are the main hormones that affect how the male
reproductive system functions.
The pituitary gland produces FSH and LH. It is situated at the base of the brain and controls a
variety of bodily processes. For the generation of sperm, FSH is required (spermatogenesis). To
continue the process of spermatogenesis, testosterone must be produced, which LH stimulates.
The growth of masculine features including muscular size and strength, fat distribution, bone
mass, and sex desire all depend on testosterone.
1. Glomerular Filtration
2. Reabsorption
Explanation: Nearly all of the filtrate collected is reabsorbed by the renal tubules, for
around 99%. Active and passive transport are used to accomplish this.
3. Secretion
Explanation: Tubular secretion is the following phase of urine production. In this phase,
the filtrate is filled with materials secreted by tubular cells, such as hydrogen ions and
potassium ions. The ionic, acid-base, and balance of other bodily fluids are all preserved
by this mechanism. Urine is created when the filtrate and released ions combine. The
nephron tubule releases the urine into a collecting duct.
2. What are the deviations to the normal anatomy and physiology when an individual
has prostate cancer?
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Drug Indication Contraindicat Mechanism Side Effect/ Nursing
ion of Action Adverse Responsibility
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7. What will be your health teaching with regards to all the drugs prescribed?
Goserelin
● Encourage the patient to call a doctor right away if they are having problems
urinating or if their arms and legs are feeling weak and numb.
● Tell the patient to always let their doctor know if they notice any unusual
symptoms.
● Tell the patient to stay out of the sun and to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or
higher, along with sun protection clothes.
● Tell patient to completely avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.
● Advise patient to get plenty of rest and maintain a proper nutrition.
● Remind the patient that while taking goseralin, it is important to have regular
checkups to evaluate side effects and determine how well they are responding to
therapy.
Nilutamide
● Inform the patient to speak with their healthcare practitioner if they have chest
pain, jaw pain, or other discomfort along with difficulty urinating.
● Ensure that the patient knows to tell the doctor about all of their current drugs
before beginning the nilutamide treatment such as prescription, over-the-counter,
vitamins, herbal remedies and others
● Encourage the patient to keep moving their bowels. To help prevent constipation
that could be brought on by this medication, their doctor may advise them to take
a stool softener.
● Tell the patient to consume 2 to 3 quarts of liquid every 24 hours, unless
instructed to do otherwise, and to maintain a healthy diet. This will lessen the
likelihood of constipation and stop dehydration.
● Tell the patient to stay out of the sun and to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or
higher, along with sun protection clothes.
● Tell the patient to completely avoid alcoholic beverages.
● Remind the patient to get regular checkups. The physician could also prescribe
regular blood tests to check your complete blood count (CBC) and the condition
of other organs (such your kidneys and liver).
Docetaxel
● Tell the patient to call their physician immediately if they develop chills or a fever
of at least 100.4 ℉ (38 degrees Celsius) this could be a possible sign of infection.
● Before beginning the docetaxel treatment, tell the patient to inform the doctor of
any additional medications you are currently taking. Unless your doctor expressly
approves, avoid taking aspirin or aspirin-containing products.
● Inform the patient that while taking docetaxel, they should not get any kind of
vaccination or immunization without their doctor's permission.
● Tell the patient to wash their hands often.
● Tell the patient to use an electric razor and soft toothbrush to minimize bleeding.
● Inform the patient to stay away from any potentially dangerous contact sports or
activities.
● Tell the patient to stay out of the sun and to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or
higher, along with sun protection clothes.
● Tell the patient to avoid alcoholic beverages completely.
● Remind the patient to get regular checkups. The physician could also prescribe
regular blood tests to check your complete blood count (CBC) and the condition
of other organs (such your kidneys and liver).
Prednisone
● Ensure that the patient knows to tell the doctor about all of their current drugs
before beginning the nilutamide treatment such as prescription, over-the-counter,
vitamins, herbal remedies and others
● Encourage the patient to consult their doctor before getting any vaccines (shots to
prevent infections).
● Tell the patient that taking prednisone may reduce their ability to fight illness and
may stop them from experiencing symptoms if they contract an infection. When
using this medication, stay away from ill people and wash your hands frequently.
Avoid those who have the measles or chicken pox. If you believe you may have
come into contact with someone who had the chicken pox or measles, call your
doctor right once.
● Tell the patient that the doctor might recommend adhering to a low-salt, high-
potassium, or high-calcium diet. Additionally, your doctor might advise or
prescribe a calcium or potassium supplement. Be sure to adhere to these
recommendations.
● Educate the patient on the possibility that taking Prednisone could make them
more likely to develop osteoporosis. Consult your doctor about the dangers of
taking prednisone as well as preventative measures you can take to lessen your
risk of developing osteoporosis.
● Remind the patient to keep all scheduled appointments with their doctor and the
lab. To monitor your body's response to prednisone, your doctor will request
specific lab tests.
8. Write your references/bibliography.
American Cancer Society. (2020, June 09). Prostate Cancer Risk Factors.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
Goserelin (Zoladex) for prostate cancer | Cancer information | Cancer Research UK. (n.d.).
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/drugs/
goserelin-prostate-cancer
Mustafa, M., Salih, A. F., Ilzam, E. M., Sharifa, A. M., Suleiman, M., & Hussain, S. S. (2016, June).
Prostate Cancer: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Prognosis. DOI: 10.9790/0853-1506020411.
Nilutamide - Chemotherapy Drugs - Chemocare. (n.d.). Chemocare.
https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/nilutamide.aspx
Prostate Cancer Foundation. (2022, May 14). Prostate Cancer Risk Factors. https://www.pcf.org/patient-
resources/family-cancer-risk/prostate-cancer-risk-factors/
PSA test. (2021, June 22). Mayo Clinic - Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/psa-
test/about/pac-20384731
Schmidt, C. (2019, December 20). Researchers urge prostate cancer screening for men with BRCA gene
detects. Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/researchers-urge-prostate-cancer-
screening-for-men-with-brca-gene-defects-2019122018615
Transrectal ultrasound scan (TRUS) and biopsy for prostate cancer. (n.d.). Cancer Research UK.
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/tests/transrectal-ultrasound-guided-
trus-biopsy#:~:text=A%20transrectal%20ultrasound%20scan%20
White, J. M., & O'Brien, D. P. (n.d.). Prostate examination - Clinical methods - NCBI bookshelf. National
Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK301/
Wong, S. K., Mohamad, N. V., Giaze, T. R., Chin, K. Y., Mohamed, N., & Ima-Nirwana, S. (2019).
Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastases: The Underlying Mechanisms. International journal of molecular
sciences, 20(10), 2587. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20102587
Zoladex Implant 3.6 mg (goserelin acetate) dose, indications, adverse effects, interactions. . . from
PDR.net. (n.d.). https://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/Zoladex-Implant-3-6-mg-goserelin-acetate-1129