Case Background
The case study under examination describes a man diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. The patient has such risk factors as diverticulitis, a diet with low fiber intake, and a sedentary lifestyle. Moreover, the man has a family history of colon cancer, as his grandfather was diagnosed with and passed due to this condition. The symptoms presented by the patient include constipation, fever, and left lower quadrant pain. These signs can be explained by the polyps and the patient’s comorbidities, as well as the patient’s genetics.
Explanation of Patient’s Symptoms
First, explaining the patient’s symptoms is necessary to understand his diagnosis. As noted above, one of the complaints was constipation, which was likely a consequence of the polyps blocking the normal activity of the colon (McCance & Huether, 2019). Bowel movement may also rely on the patient’s fiber intake, which is low, contributing to the risk of constipation.
Moreover, one of the common symptoms of diverticulitis is constipation, which is explained by the inflammation of the diverticula (McCance & Huether, 2019). Similarly, fever and pain are signs of this condition, as the inflamed diverticula causes persistent pain in the lower left side of the abdomen, resulting in fever due to the body’s response to the inflamed region (McCance & Huether, 2019). The symptoms present a combination of diverticulitis, the patient’s lifestyle, and cancer.
Genes Associated with Disease Development
Several genes may be responsible for increasing the risk of colon cancer in the patient. For example, APC is a gene linked to familial adenomatous polyposis (McCance & Huether, 2019). The mutations of this gene are often found in polyps that are attributable to colon cancer (McCance & Huether, 2019). The gene produces the APC protein, stopping the accumulation of β-catenin. Thus, when the gene mutates, the production of the protein is disrupted, leading to an increased risk of cancer.
Other genes may include POLD1 or POLE, connected to the polymerase proofreading-associated polyposis (PPAP), another hereditary type of colorectal cancer (McCance & Huether, 2019). Similar to other cancers, the mutations in these genes cause the growth of cancerous cells, resulting in the appearance of polyps in the colon.
Immunosuppression and Its Effects on Body Systems
Patients with genetic predispositions, comorbidities, and other issues may also have a suppressed immune system. Immunosuppression may be hereditary, congenital, or acquired, and its process relies on the absence or low level of antibodies and white blood cells (Soo, 2018). Alternatively, if autoimmune diseases cause immunosuppression, the immune system also attacks the body’s cells as it perceives them as foreign bodies. For example, due to genetics or immunosuppressant medications, a patient may lack white blood cells, which deal with infection and respond to viruses, bacteria, and other foreign bodies.
As a result, when a pathogen enters the patient’s system, it is not eradicated quickly, and the individual experiences more severe symptoms, including fever, weakness, rashes, and more (Justiz-Vaillant & Zito, 2019). Furthermore, as the body systems are exposed to the pathogen for longer periods of time, they are at risk of other pathogens weakening the health further, resulting in a higher risk of severe conditions and death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the patient’s case shows a combination of potential genetic predisposition and lifestyle choices that led to the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the colon. The man presents to the office with symptoms indicative of acute diverticulitis and polyps in the colon. Some genes responsible for colon cancer include APC, POLD1, and POLE, as their mutations increase the risk of polyps. Immunosuppression is the body’s weakened immune system, which does not have enough cells to fight infections. It increases the risk of severe conditions and endangers all body systems.
References
Justiz-Vaillant, A. A., & Zito, P. M. (2019). Immediate hypersensitivity reactions. StatPearls. Web.
McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). Mosby/Elsevier.
Soo, P. (2018). Pathophysiology Ch 10 alterations in immune function [Video]. YouTube. Web.
