Blog 20: 3 Column Chart

Content:
3 Column Logic Chart

Mentorship Update 3/25/2013

The last time that I went to the Head and Neck Surgery department (3/14/2013), I took pictures of the new materials list that they have posted in every exam room. This list shows the materials needed in each room, and also the quantity. Before, I would restock the exam rooms based on what I had learned when I first restocked an exam room. I also took a picture of one of the posters that they have in the exam rooms, detailing the anatomy of the ear,nose, and throat in this case.

Blog 19:Senior Project and ESLR's

Content:

1.  What ESLR have you excelled in most in your senior project?
The ESLR that I have excelled in most during my senior project is Effective Learner.
2.  Please explain why you think you have excelled in this ESLR.
I believe I have excelled most in this ESLR is because I have proven, through me working bibliography, that I have an understanding about my senior project, and I have used the information from my research in presentations. Also, the research that I have gotten is from credible sources,mostly from academic journals, such as the American Journal of Otolaryngology. I have also done research outside of the selected research check dates, amounting to the articles that I have so far. To learn about my topic, I have diligently gone to my mentorship, where on certain days, I can see cancer first hand, which helps me understand how cancer can be extracted and what the doctor does during the procedure.
3.  Provide evidence from your senior project to support your claim (evidence is a photo of something you are doing, photo of something you made, etc).
The evidence shown is a link  of my up to date working bibliography, which shows that I have amounted 73 articles so far. Cancer of the Head and neck is one of the book articles that really aids my understanding of my topic, and gives me a great description of head and neck cancer physically and also pathologically.

Working Bibliography

This is a CT scan of nasopharyngeal cancer. The image also shows the tumor related to other anatomy located next to the pharynx, specifically the nasopharynx.

Mentorship Update

These are the forms that the receptionists and the surgery scheduler use for the patients when they first check in, or when they are in need of a surgery. The first form is completed by the receptionists when the patient is checking in, and it is then given to the either to HNS (Head and Neck Surgery), Speech, or Audiology. It is then taken by the appropriate department so the patient can receive the proper care. It is used by the nurses, doctors, audiologists, etc. to see what the patient came in for, and they receive the best care possible.








This form is used by the surgery scheduler of the department, who is in charge of scheduling the surgeries for ALL the head and neck surgery doctors! This form is inside the surgery packet (pictures are up on an earlier blog post) and it contains the necessary information for the patient to schedule their surgery. The surgery scheduler discussed the importance of patients scheduling their surgery on time, and she also mentioned that everything has to be correct, and to the doctor's orders. Sometimes, a doctor might need an instrument that isn't available in the OR, so the surgery scheduler has to make sure that what the doctor requested in included in the case report. This way, when the day of the surgery comes along, the doctor will have the necessary instrument to perform a successful surgery.

Blog 18: 2-Hour Meeting Answer #3

1.  What is your essential question?
My essential question is "What is the best way to treat head and neck cancer in adults?"
2.  What is your third answer to your essential question (write your third answer in a complete sentence)?
My third answer to my essential question is awareness about head and neck cancer through various mediums such as high school classes, education at the hospital via classes, etc. Education through these mediums, especially about factors that could cause head and neck cancer (smoking, alcohol consumption, sun exposure,etc) would help prevent head and neck cancer for the patients who are susceptible to it.
3.  What are three details to support or justify your third answer (details are examples or facts)?
The three details that justify my third answer are:

• "Reduced odds of head and neck SCC were found for the fruit, vegetable, and lean protein pattern.The fried foods, high-fat and processed meats, and sweets pattern was positively associated only with laryngeal cancer.These findings underline the importance of a dietary pattern rich in fruits and vegetables and low in high-fat and processed meats and sweets for prevention of head and neck cancer." Bradshaw, Patrick T., Anna Maria Siega-Riz, Marci Campbell, Mark C. Weisser, William K. Funkhouse, and Andrew Olshan. "Associations Between Dietary Patterns and Head and Neck Cancer: The Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Study."American Journal of Epidemiology 172.12 (2012): 1225-233. Print.
• "Our results thus show that even cancer patients with multi-drug abuse and heavy nicotine dependence can quit smoking successfully with structured support. This indicates that cancer could be a ‘teachable moment’ for patients with H&N cancer.The results of our study indicate that H&N cancer patients are interested in quitting smoking if support and help is being offered, even if it is possible that some patients felt obliged to accept participation to please the treating staff. However, a majority of the patients who stopped smoking during RT remained smoke-free during the first year after diagnosis, which indicates that their interest in quitting smoking was sincere." Sharp, L., Johansson, H., Fagerstrom, K. and Rutqvist, L.E. (2008), Smoking cessation among patients with head and neck cancer: cancer as a ‘teachable moment’. European Journal of Cancer Care, 17: 114–119.
• “Compared to subjects without family history, nonsmokers, and non or moderate drinkers, the OR was 42.6 for current smokers, heavy drinkers with family history. History of oral and pharyngeal cancer and laryngeal cancer is a strong determinant of oral and pharyngeal cancer risk, independent from tobacco and alcohol.” Garavello, W., Foschi, R., Talamini, R., La Vecchia, C., Rossi, M., Dal Maso, L., Tavani, A., Levi, F., Barzan, L., Ramazzotti, V., Franceschi, S. and Negri, E. (2008), Family history and the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer. Int. J. Cancer, 122: 1827–1831.

4.  What source helped you prove this answer is justified for your essential question?
The source that has helped me prove that my 3rd answer is justified for my essential question is taking to Mark Dome, the physician assistant at the Head and Neck Department. When discussing my essential question with him, they told me that the the best way to prevent head and neck cancer, or any other form of malignancy, was for the patient (s) to stop smoking, reduce or stop their alcohol consumption, have dietary measures, and look at the family history because if it is a trait shared in the family, they are more likely to attain some type of head and neck cancer. The details listed above also helped me find justification about it is  imperative for adults to educate themselves about head and neck cancer.
5.  What do you plan to study next and why?
I plan to study the effects of not undergoing the proper procedure during treatment and diagnosis for head and neck cancer, specifically if the patient continues to smoke or practices activities that could increase their risk of developing secondary malignant tumor and/or serious malformations to the face.

Mentorship Update

The great thing about this packet is that it comes in both  English and Spanish, which benefits patients  in the understanding of their surgery.

Today that I went to do my regular hours at the Head and Neck Department, I was mainly restocking the exam rooms with supplies, but I was also completing surgery packets, which are shown below. These packets are given to patients requiring surgery either to remove a malignancy or other problems that require the treatment of surgery. In my opinion, the packet is very helpful to the patient because it explains the process of what the patient is going to go through and has the names and numbers of the person you can contact if you have any pending questions about your surgery.

Blog 17: Fourth Interview Questions

Content:
Post 20 open-ended questions for approval you want to ask an expert in the field of your senior project.  The first question should be your essential question and the other 19 must help you answer your essential question.   Once you have possible answers, you may want to ask questions to help you get a more in-depth understanding of your answers.


1.What is the best way to treat head and neck cancer?
2.What is the procedure for diagnosing head and neck cancer?
3.What can the doctor do to help the patient with the psychosocial effects of cancer?
4.What is the most dangerous head and neck cancer to have? Why?
a.What treatment would you recommend for the patient and why?
5.Does the follow-up care depend on the treatment and/or cancer of the patient?
6.How would you conduct a follow-up for the patient?
7.Is it necessary for a patient to receive follow-up care if they have stage 1 cancer or noncancerous tumors?
8.What are the advantages or disadvantages of each treatment option? Again does it depend on the type of cancer?
9.What are the complications that could arise during treatment or when having head and neck cancer?
10.Is different treatment prescribed for patients who have recurrent head and neck cancer, or is the same treatment given to the patient?
11.How can one reduce their risk of developing head and neck cancer?
12.What should patients talk to their doctor after the treatment ends?
13.What risks do patients runs when they have HPV or any other immunosupressed deficiency?
14.What are the health habits that patients can practice after treatment and beyond?
15.How do the various departments combine to ensure the best care for the patient?
16.What would be the “ultimate cure” of the patient?
17.Depending on the type of cancer, some patients may need reconstructive surgery. How would you go about doing that?
18.What is the most challenging anatomical site to reconstruct?
19.Can you explain what disease –free survival means?
20.What are the health habits that patients can practice after treatment and beyond?