Patient case: Colon Cancer
A 72-year-old male presents to the clinic with complaints of intermittent abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, and blood in his stool over the past two months. He reports experiencing episodes of constipation alternating with diarrhea, and he has noticed that his stools are narrower than usual. His medical history includes hypertension and hyperlipidemia, but he has no previous gastrointestinal issues.
During the physical examination, the patient appears mildly distressed but is hemodynamically stable. Abdominal examination reveals mild tenderness in the left lower quadrant without palpable masses. A digital rectal exam confirms the presence of blood. Laboratory tests indicate anemia with a hemoglobin level of 11 g/dL. A colonoscopy is performed, revealing a mass in the sigmoid colon, and biopsy results confirm the diagnosis of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.
The patient is staged as having stage II colon cancer. A multidisciplinary team discusses treatment options, and the decision is made to proceed with surgical resection of the affected segment of the colon, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. He is scheduled for surgery in two weeks, and preoperative counseling is provided, including dietary recommendations and information about postoperative care.
a). Severe weight loss and fatigue
b). Abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, and blood in the stool
c). Nausea and vomiting
d). Jaundice and pruritus
a). Abdominal ultrasound
b). CT scan of the abdomen
c). Colonoscopy
d). MRI of the abdomen
a). Squamous cell carcinoma
b). Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the colon
c). Lymphoma
d). Carcinoid tumor
a). Immediate chemotherapy
b). Surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy
c). Radiation therapy
d). Palliative care only
