Case Study
ML is 55-year-old white male with prior medical hx of hyperlipidemia and DM.His mother died at the age of 60 from colon cancer.During the last 4 weeks he has had symptoms of abdominal pain, he feels weak and fatigued, more and more often he feels his back ache, and he has noticed darkening of his urine and lighter-in-color stools.Also, he reports having episodes of nausea and vomiting and has lost his appetite.ML has been losing weight during the last 5 weeks.All these symptoms led him to his doctor, who ordered a laboratory analysis.
The doctor ordered a computed tomography (CT) and an ultrasound.To confirm diagnosis a biopsy was also performed.ML was diagnosed with ductal adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas Stage III.
Height: 5'7" Weight: 198# UBW: 220#
The doctor ordered the administration of chemotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and improvement of his nutritional condition before surgery (Whipple procedure).Other meds prescribed: Zofran, Duragesic, pancrealipase, regular insulin.
Diet Order: NPO
-How much body weight loss has ML experienced?

Question

Case Study
ML is 55-year-old white male with prior medical hx of hyperlipidemia and DM.His mother died at the age of 60 from colon cancer.During the last 4 weeks he has had symptoms of abdominal pain, he feels weak and fatigued, more and more often he feels his back ache, and he has noticed darkening of his urine and lighter-in-color stools.Also, he reports having episodes of nausea and vomiting and has lost his appetite.ML has been losing weight during the last 5 weeks.All these symptoms led him to his doctor, who ordered a laboratory analysis.
The doctor ordered a computed tomography (CT) and an ultrasound.To confirm diagnosis a biopsy was also performed.ML was diagnosed with ductal adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas Stage III.
Height: 5'7"       Weight: 198#        UBW: 220#
The doctor ordered the administration of chemotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and improvement of his nutritional condition before surgery (Whipple procedure).Other meds prescribed: Zofran, Duragesic, pancrealipase, regular insulin.
Diet Order: NPO
-How much body weight loss has ML experienced?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

ML has lost 10% of his body weight (22 lbs) in the last 5 weeks (198 lbs - 176 lbs = 22 lbs). As per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, a 10% weight loss within 6 months is considered significant and may be associated with poor outcomes.

The best choice for ML would be to follow the doctor's orders for chemotherapy with 5-FU and improve his nutritional condition before surgery (Whipple procedure). This will help to shrink the tumor and improve his nutritional status, making him a better candidate for surgery. The medication regimen prescribed (Zofran for nausea/vomiting, Duragesic for pain, pancrealipase for pancreatic enzyme deficiency, and regular insulin for his DM) is appropriate for his medical conditions. The NPO diet order is necessary to prepare for the upcoming surgery.

Case Study ML Is 55-Year-Old White Male with Prior Medical Hx of Hx