This case presentation describes a 38-year-old Hispanic man with metastatic adenocarcinoma that has spread to his lymph nodes, lungs, soft tissue, and bones. He was admitted to the hospital complaining of back pain and inability to walk. During his hospital stay he received palliative radiation, thoracentesis, abdominal biopsy confirming cancer, and orthopedic surgery. He experienced significant pain, constipation, anxiety, and distress due to his undocumented immigrant status leaving him uninsured and unable to afford treatment costs. After multiple discussions, further chemotherapy was declined and the patient was referred to hospice care.
2. Case presentation
38-year-old Hispanic gentleman with a history of a newly-
diagnosed widely metastatic adenocarcinoma, spread to the
lymph nodes, bilateral lungs, soft tissue, and bone.
Admitted on 12/4/12, complaining of 1 month history of back
pain precipitated by exertion. For 1 week PTA, he was unable to
walk.
Had urinary hesitancy. Consulted a chiropractor but pain
worsened. Had saddle hypoesthesia, intermittent urinary
retention and constipation.
Anxiety reported.
Consult to Neuro-oncology.
Admission to Internal Medicine.
3. Case presentation
Outside MRI of the lumbar spine & pelvis Lytic lesions S2S4.
Neuro-oncology consult: Suspected cauda equina. Continue
Dexamethasone, Radiation Oncology consult.
Orthopedics consult Significant tumor burden to the
sacrum as well as other multiple sites with a possible
impending fracture to the proximal right femur.
Social worker Patient and spouse indicate that they feel
anxious and overwhelmed. Educated about economy
parking, meals and KIWI.
Electronic Patient Needs Assessment (ePNA) - distress level of
8/10. Assisted with concerns about family and drafting a visa
letter for the patient's father.
4. Hospital course
2nd Day Radiation Oncology
Palliative Radiation to the sacrum.
3rd Day Thoracentesis Positive for malignant cells.
Abdominal wall biopsy - Metastatic poorly differentiated
adenocarcinoma with focal signet ring cells.
4th Day Social work
Application for emergency Medicaid.
Brother is coming to MD Anderson and has this
information about father for application to US Visa.
6th Day Orthopedics
?Percutaneous hip pinning under spinal anesthesia.
?IVC filter. Cleared for surgery.
5. SC Consult 12/13/12
Pain in mid lower spine and radiates down to the RLE into
the foot.
Burning sensation in his posterior calf. He did have a shock-
like pain a month ago in his right buttock, but now he has a
dull ache.
Was not able to hold enema in for more than a few seconds.
Mild chest pain and has shortness of breath which was
initially severe but has significantly improved following the
thoracentesis earlier in the hospitalization.
MDAS in 0/30.
CAGE-AID is negative.
Performance status: ECOG 3.
7. Psychosocial history
Married. Lives in Sheperd, TX with wife and 3 children: 9, 7
and 11 months old. One of his children has Lowe syndrome.
UNDOCUMENTED, UNINSURED.
Wife is a housewife, not working. Takes children to school
everyday. Little family support.
Has one brother in Houston, who is not very close.
Patient works in construction company doing dry wells.
Remote history of cigarette smoking approximately when he
was in at age 11.
Drinks beer a 6 pack a month. No drug abuse.
Anxious about treatment and financial situation: How are
we going to pay the bills?.
8. SC Consult 12/13/12
Past Medical History:
Questionable history of hypertension and Hyperlipidemia.
Medications:
1. Dexamethasone 4 mg intravenous every 6 hours.
2. Heparin GGT.
3. Hydralazine 10 mg intravenous every 6 hours as needed.
4. Hydromorphone 2 mg intravenous every 2 hours as needed (14 mg
utilized in the last 24 hours).
5. Ketoralac 15 mg intravenous every 6 hours as needed.
6. Metoprolol succinate 25 mg by mouth daily.
7. Ondansetron 8 mg intravenous every 8 hours as needed.
8. Pantoprazole 40 mg orally daily.
9. Piperacillin and tazobactam 3.375 grams intravenous every 6 hours.
10. Senna/docusate and Miralax
9. Physical examination
T: 36.8, HR: 134, RR: 20, BP: 154/87, Weight: 55 Kg.
Robust frame, NAD. ENT: Unremarkable.
Neck: Supple.
CV: RRR, S1 S2 normal, no murmurs, rubs or gallops.
Respiratory: Blunted breath sounds right hemithorax, ronchi.
Abdomen: Soft, not distended, not tender, BS positive.
Musculoskeletal: FROM, Muscle strength: 5/5. Mild pain on
ranging of the bilateral hip joints
Neurologic: A&Ox3. Quadriceps strength to left side is 4+/5.
Mild pain on palpation also to the right proximal thigh. DTR
normal. Decreased pinprick and light touch sensation in the
sacral area. Numbness to the inner aspect groin of the left
side.
No edema, no cyanosis or clubbing.
14. Recommendations
1. Pain Hydromorphone PCA.
Agree with Dexamethasone.
2. Constipation
Enemas
Continue Senna and Miralax.
3. Advance Care planning
No Medical Power of Attorney, no Advance
directives.
4. Psychosocial
Expressive supportive counseling.
15. Hospital course
13th Day Social worker
Patient is a resident of San Jacinto County Texas. HE
IS UNFUNDED. He is not eligible for state Medicaid, SSI,
SSI Disability or the UTMDACC Patient Financial
Assistance (PFA) Program due to his residency. Not
eligible for medical care at the Harris County Hospital
District.
Emergency Medicaid application
14th Day Palliative radiation finishes. Pulmonary for
Thoracentesis pleural catheter.
15th Day Pulmonary embolism. Percutaneous pinning of
pathologic right femoral neck fracture.
16. Hospital course
17th Day Pulmonary Thoracentesis for Dyspnea
Pleurx catheter placement.
18th Day Chemotherapy on Carboplatin and Pemetrexed.
23rd Day Hematochezia. Coumadin held.
27th Day GI Colonoscopy - Sigmoid mass. Biopsy: Colitis ?XRT.
Social work Faxing documents.
29th Day Social work Indigent program has been denied due to
patient being over resources (value of his car and property)
32nd Day Right lower extremity edema. ?Compartment
syndrome. Extensive VTE on Doppler.
17. Hospital course
34th Day Social work Family may appeal Denial.
Patient expressed frustration that they are over
allowable resources, stating we don't have anything.
Discussed that patient/spouse are responsible
for medical expenses incurred at MD Anderson.
38th Day No compartment syndrome.
Extensive conversations with family: no further
chemotherapy.
Referral to hospice.
40th Day Charity hospice referral.
21. Cancer in the US
Frist, W. H. (2005). "Overcoming Disparities In U.S. Health Care." Health Affairs 24(2): 445-451
22. Poverty Rates
Freeman, H. P. (2004). "Poverty, Culture, and Social Injustice: Determinants of Cancer
Disparities." CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 54(2): 72-77.
23. Uninsured
Freeman, H. P. (2004). "Poverty, Culture, and Social Injustice: Determinants of Cancer
Disparities." CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 54(2): 72-77.
24. Uninsured-Consequences
In 2002 more than half of African Americans, Hispanics,
and American Indians/Alaska Natives were poor or
near-poor.
More than 20 percent of African Americans and more
than 30 percent of Hispanics were uninsured. Hispanics
are the most likely of any racial and ethnic minority to
be uninsured.
Undocumented immigrants exceed 10 million, or 29% of
the total US foreign-born population.
Low SES is usually associated with poor access to care,
riskier behavior, fewer community resources, and higher
mortality.
25. Cancer in the Poor
In 1989, the ACS Cancer in the Poor: A Report to the Nation.
- Lack access to quality health care and are more likely than
others to die of cancer.
- Endure greater pain and suffering from cancer.
- Face substantial obstacles to obtaining and using health
insurance and often do not seek needed care if they cannot
pay for it.
- Must make extraordinary personal sacrifices to obtain and
pay for health care.
- Cancer education and outreach efforts are insensitive and
irrelevant to many poor people.
- Fatalism about cancer prevails among the poor and prevents
them from gaining quality health care.
DuBard C, M. M. W. (2007). "Trends in emergency medicaid expenditures for recent and
undocumented immigrants." JAMA 297(10): 1085-1092.
26. Complex problem
- Emergency Medicaid in North Carolina - 93%of Applications
Hispanic.
- 39 of 129 millons of US dollars in Texas.
- More likely to be treated at late stages and to die from cancer.
- Late referrals were the family belief that palliative care
shortens the patients life, insufficient advance discussion
about palliative care, and lack of preparation for the changes
in the. patients condition.
- Physicians were found to more frequently have negative
perceptions of minorities and persons of low or middle
socioeconomic status than of whites and persons of high
socioeconomic status.
Francoeur, R. B., R. Payne, et al. (2007). "Palliative care in the inner city." Cancer 109(S2): 425-434.
Shavers, V. L. and M. L. Brown (2002). "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Receipt of Cancer Treatment."
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 94(5): 334-357.
27. Greiner, K. A., S. Perera, et al. (2003). "Hospice Usage by Minorities in the Last Year of Life: Results
from the National Mortality Followback Survey." J Am Ger Soc 51(7): 970-978.
28. Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers
brought forth upon this continent a new nation,
conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created equal. It is for
us, the livingto be dedicated here to the unfinished
work that they have thus far so nobly carried
on.
Abraham Lincoln, 1863