Reference no: EM133281647
Assignment:
Steve, a 62-year-old male, has enjoyed good health all of his life, having only had a few visits to his primary care physician for minor health issues. He is beginning to make plans for retirement and to enjoy sailing on his 50-foot yacht. He and his wife Nancy spend weeks at a time sailing Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.
Some time ago Steve began feeling tired all the time and experienced night sweats and ran a low-grade fever. He noticed a lump, which was tender to the touch, in his left armpit and a few days later found a second tender lump in his right groin. Nancy encouraged him to make an appointment with his doctor. After several tests were completed Stage IV lymphoma was diagnosed. Both Steve and Nancy were stunned and shocked that such a serious diagnosis could be made when Steve had so few symptoms. There must be some mistake!
Chemotherapy, the treatment of choice, was begun immediately. Steve lost his hair and experienced bouts of nausea, vomiting, and anorexia and felt very weak. Blood tests verified anemia and a decrease in the number of white blood cells. At the end of the 12-month regimen the doctor felt that the lymphoma had abated and Steve could go 3 months without further treatment to allow time for recovery from the chemo and to see how his body responded. Steve and Nancy immediately made plans to take a cruise to China, a trip they had always wanted to take. While in China they explored traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) alternatives to educate themselves in case the cancer surfaced again.
Steve felt better after the trip and at the end of the 3 months returned to his doctor for follow-up care. Once again the cancer was active and another round of chemotherapy was suggested. Steve declined the chemotherapy, stating that the side effects from the chemo were worse than the disease symptoms. Steve and Nancy decided the TCM alternatives would be a better option and made plans for another trip to China. Steve also began to prepare for his death. He scheduled an appointment with his attorney to update his last will and testament, signed a physician's directive and a durable power of attorney for health care so that Nancy could act on his behalf in making health care decisions. Steve and Nancy took one last trip on their sailing yacht and listed it for sale with a yacht broker. Steve did not want Nancy to have to handle the boat sale once he was gone.
1. Which of Erikson's stages of human growth and development (Appendix A) do Steve and Nancy represent?
2. Does Steve use any defense mechanisms (Appendix B) to cope with his diagnosis? Which one(s)?
3. Consider Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, page 277. In what level of need might Steve be in?